Evergreen and Everlasting

When I was young, it was important to my family that we get a “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree—a tree that others might look over. Not the most symmetrical, bushy, or beautiful, but full of character and up to the task of displaying our twinkle lights and ornaments.

The holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, first aired on CBS in 1965. Just like Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip, the TV special follows Charlie Brown and his comrades. This time, they are preparing for a Christmas play. In his new job as director, Charlie Brown sets out to find a Christmas tree to help set the stage. Only he doesn’t select the expected fake, shiny tree with sparkling tinsel, but a struggling little evergreen that can hardly hold onto its needles, much less a Christmas ornament.

Charlie Brown wants to give this little tree a chance. It is an evergreen after all.

Since the beginning of the Christmas tree, evergreen trees have been used as a part of the Christmas celebration. Early Christians equated evergreen trees with everlasting life with God. Indeed, coniferous trees of any kind are a beautiful image of the kingdom of eternity inaugurated by Jesus’ birth.

When Charlie Brown chose a “real” tree for their Christmas play, he was choosing something that would last much longer than all the commercialized holiday cheer he saw around him. His young, depressed heart sought something deeper. But when Charlie Brown and Linus arrive back at the theater with the tree, they are met with ridicule:

Lucy: You were supposed to get a good tree. Can't you even tell a good tree from a poor tree? . . . You've been dumb before, Charlie Brown, but this time you really did it. What a tree.

[All Laughing] 

Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about.
(shouting in desperation): Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
    
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Lights, please.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:8-14 KJV)
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

The angels said, “Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Did you catch that “all”? It was good news when the people of Israel heard the news of the Messiah from the prophets. It was good news for the shepherds and people living in Bethlehem. It was good news for the Magi, traveling across deserts to reach a forecasted king. It was good news when Jesus began His earthly ministry, teaching and healing, sacrificing and resurrecting. And it is good news for us today. Only an Everlasting Jesus could make that much difference to that many generations of His children. “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!”

Like a Christmas Tree

At the beginning of Advent I read through a book I found in my church library. It was Max Lucado’s Because of Bethlehem. I really haven’t read much by Lucado, apart from his children’s books. But there it was, so I thought I’d see what I could glean for this year’s Advent reflections.

I read this passage nearly three weeks ago. But today it preached to my heart. There are things I don’t understand about where God has placed me in this new season. I feel a bit like the forlorn Christmas tree in the beloved TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. I feel misplaced, not quite right for the task in front of me, a little lonely. But that is not how the tree ends up. Because Charlie Brown cares. And he cares for the tree.

Many of us decorate a tree to celebrate Christmas. I’m not here to discuss the historical roots (pun intended) of the practice, both secular and sacred. But just as we can draw Truth from Creation, so too can we render it from the image of a Christmas tree.

Allow me to quote at length from Lucado’s book:

In the manger God loves you; through the cross God saves you. But has he taken you to his home? Not yet. He was work for you to do. He wants the world to see what God can do with those purchased through Christ’s sacrifice.

So . . . he prunes you.

He takes an ax to your prejudices and clippers to your self-pity, and when there is a tilt in your character that needs to be removed, he’s been known to pull of the old Black & Decker. Jesus said, "My Father is the gardener . . . He trims and cleans every branch that produced fruit so that it will produce even more fruit" (John 15:1-2 NCV).

Once He stabilizes us, the decorating begins. He festoons us with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He crowns us. Most people crown their Christmas trees with either an angel or a star. God uses both. He sends His angels to protect us and His Word as a star to guide us.

Then he surrounds us with His grace. We become His depot, the distribution point of God’s gifts. He wants no one to leave our presence empty-handed. Some people find the gift of salvation. For others the gifts are smaller: a kind word, a good deed. But all the gifts are from God.

Our task is to stand tall in His love, secure in our place, sparkling in kindness, surrounded by His goodness, freely giving to all who come our way.

You, me, and the Christmas tree. Picked, purchased, and pruned.
(p. 125-127)

May we trust in God’s work, rest in His care, grow with His love, and find hope in His Light. Now and forever more.