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From Rev. Brock Patterson
“It Ain’t Like It Used To Be.”
It’s here! The Holidays have finally arrived! Unlike the arrival of our Pledge Campaign a couple of weeks ago, I don’t need to write with an edge of sarcasm. The Holidays really ARE fun, even if I don’t get to enjoy them the way I used to.
Sometimes, the changes are good: I no longer need to stand in lines on Black Friday, waiting for midnight to arrive and the mad dash to find that certain gift. Other times, the change in the Holiday Seasons is a mixed bag of good and struggle, like when I don’t have to spend three days cooking for a small army at Thanksgiving. I miss my peeps and I miss the opportunity to “do my thing” in the kitchen, but I DO NOT MISS the aching back and feet when it’s all over. It’s both happy and challenging.
At times, other changes in the Holidays are difficult. I miss the potential of a White Christmas. Granted, I only saw two of them over the course of fifty years, but there was always a little hope. Now that I live in Florida, I won’t experience a White Christmas, but I can look forward to a sunny Christmas Day on the beach.
Changes are inevitable. One thing (good or bad) about the Holidays is that the season makes me notice the changes. Holidays are the time of year that we remember the best. We can remember where we were, who was there, and the things we did. We remember the snow and ice, or the lack thereof, and the quiet streets. We remember these times because we hold the Holidays sacred- even if subconsciously. They are more important to us than we probably realize.
As we begin the Holidays this year, remember that everyone is facing major change. The world is a different place today. However, even though things are different, it doesn’t mean that we can’t discover a treasure chest filled with new, wonderful blessings. It definitely ain't like it used to be, but the best is ahead!
See you this week at the Chapel!
God Bless, Brock.
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