Doers of the Word
Christmas 2020
A Green or White Christmas?
Are the Cherokee’s on to something with this story, “Why Some Trees Are Evergreen?” When the plants and the trees were first made, the Great Mystery gave a gift to each species. But first he set up a contest to determine which gift would be most useful to whom.
“I want you to stay awake and keep watch over the earth for seven nights,” the Great Mystery told them.
The young trees and plants were so excited to be trusted with such an important job that the first night they would have found it difficult not to stay awake. However, the second night was not so easy, and just before dawn a few fell asleep. On the third night the trees and the plants whispered among themselves in the wind trying to keep from dropping off, but it was too much work for some of them. Even more fell asleep on the fourth night.
By the time the seventh night came the only trees and plants still awake were the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the fir, the holly, and the laurel. (What happened to the linden tree!?)
What wonderful endurance you have!” exclaimed the Great Mystery. “You shall be given the gift of remaining green forever. You will be the guardians of the forest. Even the seeming dead of winter your brother and sister creatures will find life protected in your branches.”
Ever since then all the other trees and plants lose their leaves and sleep all winter, while the evergreens stay awake.
Light in the darkness, green-leafed trees in a leafless forest. Chesterton said it well: “A religion that defies the world should have a feast that defies the weather.” No matter how severe the weather or pandemic, it cannot snuff out the light or wither the greenness.
How about a Christmas card with an evergreen in the midst of a barren forest and on the inside the words, “Have a defiant Christmas?” With reference to the pandemic, of course.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. The evergreens are still green! The Babe in the crib is the Savior of the world!