BBD 12.17.14 Don't Burn the Goat! (New)
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The Burning
Bush Devotional
12.17.14
Don’t Burn the Goat!
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the
fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For
there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in
swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” - Luke 2:8-14 NKJV.
Since 1966 in Gävle, Sweden, a huge straw Christmas goat 42½ feet
tall (13 meters) weighing 3.6 tons has been erected in the town square every
December. The Yule Goat is one of Scandinavia and Northern Europe’s oldest
traditions. Sadly, vandals have burned down the straw goat at least 24 times
before Christmas during the years since 1966. In 1977, the goat only lasted six
hours before burning to the ground. In 2012, the goat only made it to December
12th when it was burned down. Last year, the goat was treated with a
flame retardant and it was thought that it would solve the problem; however, it
was still burned down again.
There is a live cam which I looked at this morning of the
Christmas Goat and it is a pretty sight that is apparently still standing so
far this year. It is reported that the Goat has Twitter and Instagram accounts
and provides updates about itself in Swedish and English. To deter future goat
arsonists let‘s be clear, it is against the law to burn the goat, and at least
one American has been arrested for setting fire to it. (Yahoo News; Huffington
Post; The Report; Wikipedia; and numerous other news venues)
Making it to and through Christmas without burning down the goat
can be challenging for most of us. Putting up the Christmas tree and
decorations can be challenging. How many have been injured falling off of a
ladder or slipping down the roof? Shopping for those Christmas gifts can
sometimes be more like a full contact sport fighting the crowds and rushing
from store to store. There is the yearly ritual of sending out the Christmas
cards. In addition, the Christmas season usually has the most events that
families must attend. Schools always have Christmas programs as do churches
that families must attend. It is also a time of many sporting events which
children are involved in along with band events, choir events, and on and on.
Then there is the scheduling of Christmas gatherings with all the families,
driving there, or flying there, just getting there. The cooking, the eating,
and did I mention the credit card bills?
The Christmas season can be so frustrating that it can make the
most kind and peaceful person want to burn down the goat. Let us remember the
reason for Christmas is not the giving and receiving of presents. The reason
for Christmas is not the gathering of families and fellowship with friends. The
reason for Christmas is not even the helping of the unfortunate. What is the
reason for the Christmas season? The short answer is, JESUS! The reason for the
“good tidings of great joy which
will be to all people” is as
the angel of the Lord said to the shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.” So, whenever we
become so frustrated that we could burn down the Christmas goat, let us
remember what the real reason for the season is, and that reason is JESUS.
Instead of frustration, place Jesus in the center of your heart and of your
Christmas celebration; and He will give you, “great
joy.”
Copyright © 2014. Ed Wrather. The
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