Of all the things in my day yesterday, I ran across a prayer that made me stop and think. The Blessing for a Christmas Tree by Bryan Cones, surprised me. Being an artificial tree woman who likes to avoid the allergens and mess of a real tree, I think of the Christmas tree as more of a chore to be checked off the list rather that something to be blessed as a symbol of the meaning of Christmas. I should also note that this is where my liberal Protestant bias comes in since I realize that there are many faiths where a blessing of the tree would indeed occur to followers.
God of light and darkness,
Maker of heaven and earth,
In the depth of midwinter you gather us
Beneath the tree of light.
These lines speak to me this week as so many students struggle to survive the stress of finals and final projects, as faculty face long stretches of grading, and as staff try to wind up year end closing. For so many the season is one of joy, and yet for so many others it is a reminder of loss and imperfection. It feels like bleak midwinter to many, and yet we look out the car windows to see so many decorated trees of light—and many of us go home to trees in our own living rooms. Don’t worry students, your families will have a tree up to welcome you (unless they are waiting for you to help!)
Bless all those who gather around this Christmas tree;
May the gifts it shelters make present your heavenly grace.
May the lights it holds lead us to the Light of the World.
Never, in my experience have those little white blinker lights reminded me of the Light of the World. They hurt my hands and frustrated me—this year I have ¾ of the tree lit so far—there is a problem with the top section. I have been on strike for the past three days…Light of the World.
And may the color it bears announce your unfailing love,
Evergreen in the eternal spring your promise in Jesus Christ,
Emmanuel, God with us,
now and forever.
Maybe if I had a “real tree” the evergreen smell would prompt a spring reference, but I got a really good sale on the artificial number. So after stumbling across this prayer I am a little more tuned into the real Christmas I mean to be in touch with. I really do need Advent preparation to last another ten days, and I am glad that there are unopened windows on the Advent calendar.
For so many in our community the stress will start to lift a bit this week. I invite you to replace the stress with waiting and hope. I invite you to enjoy your family or enjoy the peace of family farther away, whichever you need more. I invite you to celebrate a “Tree of Life” wherever you see a “Tree of Light”.
Blessings Stephanie
We’re real tree people all the way. Since our girls were ibbaes, we’ve driven out to the same tree farm every year and cut our own. We spend the drive out talking about what kind of tree we want, then we tromp around the fields considering different possibilities until we all agree on one. Then the Man of the House cuts it down and his helpers assist with carrying it back across the fields to our car. Because the tree is freshly-cut, I don’t worry about leaving our Christmas lights on for hours at a time, so we get to enjoy the tree all that much more. After Christmas, we haul our tree to the curb, where it’s picked up to be mulched by our town.
We have a handful of tree farms within very close range (less than three miles). One is pretty close to the library, the other practically in my parents’ backyard. So we can get to the farms without making any special trip, and they’re all family owned and operated in this area. I’ve never even asked about what chemicals go into their production. I just always assumed that trees grow pretty well on their own here, with no irrigation of anything like that. I doubt anyone bothers with organic certification, though I’ll ask this year. Deer would be the biggest hazard where we live. They like to rub their antlers on evergreens.We go to the farms and cut our own trees. We like supporting a local business, and having the scent of a really fresh green tree. And when we’re done with it our township turns it into mulch for us and gives it back to us for free. I can live with that arrangement.