My Mormon Third Eye: I See… The First Christmas

Sunday, December 23, 2007

I See… The First Christmas

You probably think this is about the first Christmas, the one in Bethlehem a little over 2,000 years ago. The one where Joseph and great-with-child Mary wander all over the city without finding decent lodgings, so they are relegated to the relatively last-class surroundings of a stable. It must have been rough for them, knowing what they knew about their divine mission to birth and raise the Savior of the world, to struggle even in their attempts to find a suitable station to bring him into the world. Despite these humbling circumstances, I’m sure they were comforted by the appearance of a new star, visiting shepherds and wisemen, and their own testimonies.

I imagine that a perfectly loving Heavenly Father may have found it difficult, but necessary, to dedicate his only begotten son down to a world where many would ignore, abuse, and eventually crucify him.

But this is not about that first Christmas. This is about our first Christmas; yours and mine. Everyone who celebrates Christmas will be celebrating it for the first time in some way. Maybe it is the first time with a husband or wife, or the first without one; the first with or without children; in a new house or without a home; or something as seemingly trivial as a first with a real or fake tree. We’re enjoying our first Christmas with a pre-lit tree, and it’s given me about four more hours to spend on other worthwhile traditions. First Christmases can present an array of challenges, all of which can be mitigated by the right doses of humility and reliance on the holiday’s true meaning.

However, this is not the first Christmas I’m talking about.

This is our first Christmas in 19 years without Brian. 19 years of morning joy watching him open desired presents, ranging from a He-man action figure to Season 2 of The Office. The knowledge that he is currently wholly consumed in serving others on a mission in North Carolina, something we have encouraged him to do even before he was able to know we wanted it for him, and the blessings we reap through his service, tend to take a little of the edge off of how terribly we miss him. We knew that angry dogs would chase him, angry residents would slam doors in his face, and misinformed investigators would reject his message, but we let him go anyway.

Wait a minute… hmm… while an eternity of knowledge and experience sets me apart from God.... I am just an imperfectly loving father, sending his son away from home for a length of time, into a cruel, harsh world… on a mission to share the gospel with those willing to hear… could this be faintly connected to the First Christmas in Bethlehem after all?

What do you think?

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.