My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- December 22, 2007

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December 22, 2007

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

Are We Missing Something?, by Tom Norvell

It is 1:00 on Saturday afternoon not too long before Christmas. The
kids are with their friends and will be well cared for until the
evening hours. You and your spouse decide this is the perfect time to
finish up your holiday shopping. "Let's go to the mall and get this
done," she says gleefully. "Okay," you respond with a little less glee.
Off you go.

You only live five minutes from the mall on a normal day. However, on
this particular Saturday afternoon, it takes you fifteen minutes to get
to where you can see the mall. Traffic is crazy. When you see the line
of cars waiting to turn into the mall, it is backed up for more than
two blocks. It's at this point that you have your first thought that
this might not have been such a good idea to go shopping. Not wanting
to appear to be lacking in Christmas cheer, you do not dare to reveal
these feelings to your spouse. So, you wait.

The light changes four times before you get close to the entrance.
Finally, it's your turn. You are ready to turn, except the driver in
front of you sits there talking on the phone as the light turns green
and then turns red again. Just as the light changes, the driver
realizes what's happening and guns it, just making it through and
almost being broadsided by cars coming from the other direction.
Several friendly drivers honk to encourage the move.

Finally, you, along with several thousand other shoppers, reach the
inner circle of the mall and you are all looking for the same parking
space. You've been down every aisle near the food court and are finally
working your way over to the Sears lawn and garden area. At least you
can see the lawn and garden area. You see a place and are just about to
pull in when your wife says, "Oooh. It's so cold. Let's look for one
just a little closer." You cannot believe it, but you don't want her to
know you are just a little frustrated. So, on you drive. Ah!!! After
three more loops you find one. As you walk toward the mall entrance,
you count and you are a whopping three spaces closer than you were
earlier. But, she's thrilled at how the space "opened up just for us."
So, you say nothing.

You are inside the mall, and now the real "fun" begins. People are
everywhere. Lots and lots of people. Mobs of people. Busy people.
Hurried people. Weary people. Stressed-out people. Children. Thousands
of children. Children who are looking for Santa. Children who have seen
Santa, had lots of candy, not had a nap, and are now ready to go home.
Moms and Dads who stopped having fun a long time ago. These people are
everywhere!

All these people are now standing in line. Lines in the stores. Lines
at the coffee shop. Lines at the food court. Lines in the restroom. One
line seemed to be a line you had to stand in until it was your turn to
stand in the other line. Guess what? The old idea that the left line
moves faster is not true. None of these lines move quickly.

Long lines. Crowded stores. Tired and fussy children. Tired and fussy
parents. And the music playing over the loud speakers is a jazzed-up
version of the elevator-music-style of what sounded like "I'll Be Home
for Christmas."

You turn to your wife and say ...

You and your wife are almost to the breaking point, when you look at
her and she looks at you. She smiles at you and you smile at her. The
she says the words you've longed to hear, "Let's go home!"

You successfully exit the mall, find your car, and get in the long line
of cars leaving the mall -- at least that's where you hope you are
going. You both sit quietly wondering what it was you just did. You
turn on the radio and hear a choir softly singing, "All is calm, all is
.. Sleep in heavenly peace." You turn to your wife and say, "Do you
suppose we are missing something?"

You recall these words from the grand ol' story: "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14
NIV).

You still have time to not miss the real meaning of the season.

---------
(c) 2007 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!

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Daily Heartlight -- December 22, 2007