Making Room For the King

Driving around town doing pre-Christmas errands I decided to turn on the radio to a local Christian station. The song by Casting Crowns, While You Were Sleeping, came on. The first part, if you haven’t heard it, is about Bethlehem and how when they were sleeping the Messiah was born in a stable. The second part of the song is about Jerusalem and the crucifixion of the King and then the last about America, philosophies, killing the unborn and God being crowded out of society. I thought about the world and the evil that is native to our soil and air. I thought about the good that never seems to be enough and the ugliness of all the bad. I thought about my grandsons and how I wished I could make this world a better, safer and happier place to be, because at every turn, as Casting Crowns sing, we have no room for the King.

Christmas can be a challenging time for some and a downright despairing time for others. Is isn’t always a time of joy and thanksgiving.  Many don’t believe in Christ and the hope He brought to all of us who were doomed for all eternity, some are struggling with family problems, illness, death, heartbreak, anger, sadness and self-loathing. Some are caught up in the world’s maddening cycle of acquisition, self- fulfillment and atrophying hearts in a world drunk on media overload. These thoughts brought me to an abyss of despair of my own.

Then I thought about the song and the title, While You Were Sleeping and realized it isn’t all about me or us. It is about waking up and doing something to make this world a better place for our children and grandchildren. Caring, compassion and kindness are a small price to pay for making this world a better place. I haven’t a clue what that means in the coming new year. I just know I can look for opportunities to be a person of good will instead of being caught up in my personal life dramas. I can stop thrashing against the bonds of helplessness in this world gone mad and do what I can to stay awake and at my post of goodwill. I want there to be room for the King.

 

Susan

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