Awe & Wonder, A Christmas Series

Have you seen the movie, The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen. The Santa Clause is one of my favorite Christmas movies. One of the things I love about the movie is the way they bring the Santa character to life. Tim Allen plays the role of Scott Calvin, a marketing executive for a toy company. Through a series of events on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin becomes the new Santa. Of course, Scott, being an adult and a parent, has lost his belief in the jolly old elf, so the events of the night are dismissed as a series of ironic happening that lead to an incredible dream.

However, it wasn’t a dream. We follow Scott through the year as he tries to figure out why he keeps gaining weight, growing abundant amounts of wintry white hair, and seems to be developing quite a following of children and animals, all while denying the idea and his newly found career. In the end Scott Calvin becomes Santa Claus. But what makes this movie a Christmas favorite for me is the question, “What if it were all true?”

The Santa Clause is a movie about the magic of Christmas. And I wonder, “What if it were all true?”

​It’s takes me back to when I was a kid, and a time when Christmas was filled with awe and wonder.

It’s takes me back to when I was a kid, and a time when Christmas was filled with awe and wonder.

Do you remember those days?

The lights. The trees. Pictures with Santa. The malls filled with Christmas music. There was an excitement, an anticipation, as we got ready for the big day.

I remember, as a kid, we had to wait till Christmas Eve to decorate our tree. We would go to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church.  It was a beautiful service with Joy to the World and Silent Night. We would light the candles and sing. The sanctuary was darkened, as the glow of candles and the smell of fresh cut greens filled the air. Then home to our awaiting tree.

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Do You Remember Those Days?

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There were four of us, and each would hang our ornaments on the tree, while filling our belly with mom's homemade Christmas cookies. When we were done, it was off to bed, wondering and hoping that Santa got our lists. It felt like forever till we fell asleep. Running high on cookies and excitement, we laid in our beds, talking and giggling. 

Then morning came. Usually early. The house would be quiet. Christmas morning was one of few times we would be awake before mom was. Now, we weren’t allowed down stairs without our parents, but we learned that if you laid down on your belly, and carefully stretched our neck out you could catch a peek of the Christmas tree, all lit up, sparkling in the morning sun, with a sea of presents floating on the floor.

​It was a moment filled with awe and wonder.

Today, Christmas is a little different. I’m an adult. A parent. I have 5 kids. The awe and wonder doesn’t come along quite as easily. In fact, I think sometimes, if we’re not careful, we miss a lot more than awe and wonder at Christmas. We miss the gift that makes Christmas what it is.

Every year, we gather in our churches and read through the Christmas story, sing the carols, light the candles, open the presents, and I have to stop my self and ask, “Whatever happened to the awe and wonder?”

I want to take some time over the next couple of days, I want us to return to the story and rediscover the awe and wonder of Christmas. I invite you to join me. Starting Monday, December 12th, we will begin a short series that I hope will help us rediscover the awe and wonder.

​Come along as we think through the impact of that night. As Luke says, "born to you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Let's rediscover, together, the awe and wonder.

​- jay

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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, an avid YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.