Christmas Tree

​Probably just like most of you, one of the things I love most about Christmas is the tree. Now don’t jump to some non-Spiritual conclusion about my Christmas love. I’m all about the baby Jesus! He’s my favorite Jesus, for sure. But let me love the trees!
 
I love driving through towns seeing the town trees and decorations, and especially the trees going up in living rooms all along the road. I love you can see them from the road.
It’s just beautiful and it’s captivating. 
 
This is our version of Stars Hollow, Mayberry, Pawnee, or Castle Rock. Pick your favorite TV town. Califon/Fairmount is just as idyllic. More.
 
I’ve said it a million times—we live in a snow globe!
 
And that snow globe just looks right when the trees start popping up!
 
Back in the 90’s, I used to walk through Rockefeller Center every day on the way to work. Most years I’d catch them trimming and putting up what I think of as “The Tree.” Forget about the White House. To me, it’s not Christmas until they light the tree in Rockefeller Center.
 
When they’re trimming that tree, there’s a ton of debris and I would pick up a big branch and haul it into work. Then, I’d sit in my office and cut it into little pieces and mail it out to my friends all over the country. Just so they’d get a little piece of the tree. A little Christmas cheer…
 
Ever since I moved back to the East Coast this time, I’ve missed my chance every year. The tree goes up, the lights, the whole deal while I’ve been too busy to run into the city. Too busy with my stuff. Just not paying attention. 
 
Back home, my wife and kids used to do most of the work decorating the house. I would help put up the tree (artificial) and helped them hang the beads that look like cranberries. Otherwise, they did everything else. 
 
Last year, I didn’t do it. Just wasn’t feeling it. It’s just me in my apartment—I put out the nativity, with my little baby Jesus, but that’s it. Last year was hard. 
 
Not this year! I’m in it. Really feeling it—and I put the tree up over the weekend. All is right with the world now. This morning I’m sitting in my favorite chair in the dark of the early morning with just the tree on. Nativity set out where it belongs, picking up the light. It was a pristine moment. 
 
It’s not just the tree, it’s the whole glow. It’s on. It’s so on…
 
Same thing for our church. The Mistletoe Market is coming. The Hat and Mitten tree is going up. The kids in Haytown are singing Christmas Songs. 
 
And it’s not just the trees. Merry Christmas, Fairmount!
 
It’s so on. It’s the whole glow. 
 
Grace & Peace,
Scott