I believe in magic!  Do you?  I don’t mean the dark and evil sense of magic as used by our secular and sin-cursed world.  I mean the beautiful and mysterious kind that brings the kind of awe and wonder and joy that affects us the rest of our lives. Do you know what I mean?

I remember my late father-in-law answering a question about how he knew that my mother-in-law was the one for him. He told a story about meeting her, thinking she was beautiful, and taking her on a date on a cold winter evening in Michigan. His eyes twinkled with the memory as he told about walking her to the front door after their date. In his words, the moon light was lovely; the ice crystals sparkled in the winter air; her eyes were like diamonds; and, well, he kissed her!  How did he know she was the one for him?  He said it was because she was a good kisser!  That is the kind of magic to which I am referring.  Something that is beautiful and mysterious and even years later brings a twinkle to the eye.

Growing up in a farming world, I was always awed by the mysteries that were a normal part of that world.  My horse Nell was a beautiful mare and in her lifetime had many foals.  I spent more than a few hours of my life trying to keep an eye on her so that I could be there when her babies were born. I never was. She always managed to have them while I was sleeping or having supper or was away at church.  I would run out to the pasture and there would be the new colt – wet and spindly and staggering around the pasture.  It was always magical.  The cows were the same way.  They would always “hide” to have their babies and we would have to go find them.  What a delightful “find” it was – the little calf would be all wet and glistening; the mama would be licking it and making these “lowing” sounds that were filled with such joy and contentment and pride. It was magical, no doubt about it.

I remember the night my Bethlie and I were engaged to be married.  We dressed up that evening. We had an expensive and wonderful meal together. We attended an event that night that included Christmas carols played on a pipe organ and a wonderful rendition of Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol. It snowed that evening and the air was filled with those same ice crystals my father-in-law talked about it. We were young. We were engaged. We were happy. We were going to get married.  It was a magical evening!  

Do you see what I mean by that word? I really do believe in magic and what better time of the year to celebrate that than this one. 

Christmas from the very beginning was magical.  God became a baby. Read that again. Slowly.  He entered our world in the simplest and most amazing way.  He was born!  He “made himself of no reputation, and was made in the likeness of men” is how Paul told it in Philippians 2:5-7.  The angels knew it, and sang.  The shepherds heard it announced, and went immediately.  They made it known abroad.  The wise men saw a mysterious star, one announcing a King, and in the words of G.K. Chesteron, came, “not to pontificate, but to bow!”  Mary held God, loved Him, fed Him, and raised Him.  There is just something mysterious and magical about that. 

Christmas has always had a magical nature to its celebration.  The gifts, and the anticipation of those gifts, are magical. St. Nicholas and his kindness and generosity shown several centuries ago have inspired millions to not only give, but to make legends and incorporate his memory into their celebrations.  Songs have been written that over and over again inspire our hearts.  Words like “Silent Night, Holy Night” and “Joy to the World” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” are all full of the mysterious wonder that has always surrounded Christmas. Add to that the nativity scenes and the candlelight services and the Christmas programs and you really do have something very sacred, very wonderful, and, yes, very magical!  

It is my opinion that we are in danger of losing this side of Christmas.  Sometimes our “religion” does it to us. We are not only anti-Santa Clause, we can be brutal about it.  We ridicule those who “believe” (while knowing they really don’t) and turn something potentially beautiful and magical into something angry and condescending.  Some even “detest” the shopping and the gift giving.  Some refuse to celebrate, and can offer any number of reasons why.  May I kindly and gently rebuke us for that?  Christmas, with all of its traditions and legends and celebrations, is, well, worth celebrating.  Jesus Christ really was born.  He really is God.  He really is the Savior, Christ the Lord.  He really did “humble Himself, and become obedient to death on the cross” (see Philippians 2:5-11).  He really did rise again from the dead and He really is King of kings and Lord of lords.  Because of it, we can be forgiven and have eternal life.   How marvelous and magical is that?  

So this year, I wish you a magical Christmas!  Smile. Sing. Give gifts. Love. Tell the story of St. Nick and how he celebrated Christmas (it is a true story). Make your children’s eyes sparkle with anticipation. And worship. Quiet your spirit and allow the wonder of Jesus’ birth to bring some awe and joy to your heart. Whatever you do, keep it magical, because it really is!!

Merry Christmas friends,

Dave Young