Jesus makes a better Jesus

after realizing that a manger scene in the nowhere lands of south carolina (with christina as the angel, luke and lydia as joseph and mary, and me as Jesus) wasn't going to get our message of Christmas across just like we wanted ... we did something cooler. or at least i think it's cooler. more fun, man.

we went DOWNtown (eat that you UPtowner nuts), and hung out with robert and ross (well, craig, luke, and i did ... my parents and paul hung out with some other people). these guys were awesome, and assuming they're still alive, they ARE awesome.

robert didn't have any problem letting luke know that he needed to brain up a bit more if he was really going to finish flight school, and he certainly didn't have a problem telling me that if i didn't go to college i'd end up with snotty, poopy kids, and a fat behind.

ross warmed up to us after we (i) figured out his name wasn't indeed wallace.

we obviously weren't the first people to think of giving people with no homes christmas goodies and water and themed napkins ... robert and ross/wallace had some other gifts, and actually a different version of a baked good we had brought them.

and instead of thinking - DANG! they (other people) beat us to it! - i was really thankful that people have ideas, and hearts, and compassion.

and who are we to say that this kind of compassion is only visible during the holiday season?

i'm sitting here on christmas morning in the living room, being very humbled.


part of me really wishes i was in my living room right now, computerless and a ton of my presents surrounding me - half opened, and the other half waiting for me to tear into like a kid.

but i look under our tree and see just a few small gifts, and i have to keep remembering what christmas is. or at least, what we're making the focus of our christmas this year.

God is a really awesome God to have sent us Jesus.