The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight

I’m 62 years old, so I can’t imagine how many times I’ve watched A Charlie Brown Christmas special on television. In a world gone mad with profanity and vulgarity, it is a pleasant surprise that this wonderful program has remained a cultural icon in what is a very secular society. Recently, something was pointed out to me that I had never noticed regarding this beloved Christmas special. After all of Charlie Brown’s so-called friends ridiculed and deserted him for his attempt to address the consumerism and commercialism that was bothering him, he moans, “Does anybody know the true meaning of Christmas?!” And then, in what I think is a truly enduring and remarkable work of art, Linus recites the Christmas narrative from Luke chapter 2. Right in the middle of the Scriptures, as Linus declares, “Fear not” he drops his security blanket. Those of us familiar with this comic strip know that Linus never let go of his security blanket. So, think how consequential and profound the cartoon’s creator, Charles Schultz, thought it was for Linus to embrace the hope of true security that was announced that first Christmas night. There it is: the hopes and fears of all the years were met in that little manger 2,000 years ago.

The world did not become perfect 2,000 years ago; we all know that too well. But the hope, the peace[shalom], wholeness that the whole creation groaned for was manifested—Emmanuel– God with us. Linus knew that little baby would grow up and proclaim that we would never be alone because He is with us. Christmas 2020 certainly is vulnerable to more isolation than to what we are accustomed. Whether it’s the isolation of recent loss of loved ones, forced quarantines, or even feeling like an incredibly small remnant that understands the true meaning of Christmas, let us, like Linus, remember this little baby grew up and promised, “Lo, I am with you always.” From the entire Christian Civic League team, we wish you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas.

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