Let the madness begin...

And so it begins...
Many of us thought it began on Thursday around 8:00 pm when the pre-Black Friday sales began with stores opening at unprecedented hours.
Oh no...
That was the calm before the storm.
That was the eye of the Hurricane passing by...
That was the cold air gently saying hello to the hot air before they agreed to make a funnel...
That was the announcer gently tugging on the string to strike the bell for the heavyweight fight to commence...

There's no stopping the 100 foot tidal wave now...
Get your cellar doors open for the E5 tornado...
The running of the Bulls in Pamplona has just turned the first corner...
You know what I am talking about...
It happens every year at the same moment...
It's December 1st...

Let the madness begin...

My iWitness...

The next 40 days are going to be just about the most important 40 day stretch of 2013 and into 2014.

Shopping...
Church, Christmas Pageants...
Four Advent Sundays, Advent wreaths with Advent Candles...
Parties, Work parties, neighborhood parties, Church parties, small group parties...
Elf on the Shelf...(by the way, should I mysteriously die between now and Christmas day... Investigate the Elf on the Shelf named "Quick" at my home...He makes me very nervous.. He's always smiling and he never blinks... I mean never!!)
Family... immediate and otherwise
Gifts to buy... gifts to return...
Credit cards to swipe...credit card bills to lament
Work...
Christmas cards... Facebook posts...Twitter tweets...Instagram photos...
Smiling when you feel like crying...
Silent Night, Holy Night when the world is full of noise and everything is anything but holy...
Empty chairs where loved ones used to sit at the dining room table...
TV Commercials telling you "He went to Jared's" and "Every kiss begins with Kay" (I'm telling Jared to Kiss off with a capital K!)
Christmas lights...Whose house will have the most?
Christmas trees, decorations, Advent Calendars, wrapping paper and stockings hung by the chimney with care...(try something new this year...hang the stockings recklessly!!)
Food, diets, calories colliding with countless opportunities to indulge, exercise routines...
The annual reading of "Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house..."
Charlie Brown Christmas Special along with Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer...
Non-stop background Christmas music wherever you go...
Don't forget about the needy family that needs practical items along with one "toy."
To top it off did I mention "Your totally dysfunctional family!!"?
By the way... This is my favorite time of the year! I love these next 40 days!

Let the madness begin...

Here's a profound thought...

The madness is the madness.

The real question is, will we be able to experience peace in the midst of the madness?
Therein lies the true challenge for the next 40 days.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14. 27)

 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4. 4-7)


Over the next 40 days let's keep the main thing the main thing.
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!

ps - Let me know how you are doing...