"Low Point!"...thoughts from "The Holiday"

One of my favorite "holiday" movies...(or possibly, one of my favorite movies in general) is "The Holiday."   I love how redemptive this story is.  The story begins with four (well, Five if you count the cute older man) completely broken people. In a twist of perfect fate, they all somehow connect with one another and find peace through their own pain.  In the end, Love is redeemed...and none are left alone.  My favorite part of this movie is how each one of them begin to find someone to reach out to.  In their sadness, they decide to include someone (who could be alone) in their holiday.  So instead of wallowing in self pity for weeks, each one of them makes a purposeful decision to seize the moment.

 I don't know what it is about the holidays...but they are bittersweet for me.  Perhaps it's because I wish that my life looked differently every year at Christmas.  Or maybe it's because I'm away from family, and can't get off of work long enough to visit them.  Either way, my expectations are unrealistic, and quite selfish - If I were to be honest.

Sure, I love the "look" and "feel" of the holidays...especially in NYC.  I'm a huge fan of the massive Christmas Trees and sweet sounding carolers, the decor, and the Christmas Carols, and even the cheesy Holiday cards that I get from friends/family near and far.  But even as I walk down the streets of NYC, late  at night (most nights), after spending time with people...I can still feel "alone."

And I often ask myself the question, "Why does this bother me so much?"

I then wallow in self-pity for the next ten minutes, thinking about what I don't have...and who I don't have...it ends up being the biggest waste of ten minutes.  I'll never get those ten minutes back, ever.  I spent ten minutes thinking about how my life isn't good enough...and it's in that moment of BRASH realization that I shake my head at myself.

"Nat, why are you so selfish sometimes?!  As if there aren't bigger things in this world to spend your time on.."

I have to chuckle at these silly moments because I just think of that scene in the movie "The Holiday" where Kate Winslet is nursing her wounded heart by turning up the gas on her stove with the windows closed.  When she realizes how crazy that decision was after about 15 seconds, she quickly turns the stove off, opens the window, and slaps herself in the face saying..."Low point! Low point...!"

Hahaha!

I love her for that!  Not because I would have done something like that, but because I too have those moments where all of the sudden my thoughts go from "feeling alone" to "no one wants me in this WHOLE WIDE WORLD!"...

SERIOUSLY?!  LOW POINT.  Haha!

Now, here's the REALITY of my life.

There was a Savior who came from Heaven to Earth...He became a man...went through the same struggles I have...and died for me...he died for all of us.  Then, as if he wasn't already the most incredible man who will ever walk the planet...He rose from the dead (conquering death for then, now, and forevermore!) and is now seated in Heaven.  He left his spirit (the holy spirit) so that we would always know that he is with us!

I don't know about you, but when I think about that for even a few moments, My heart feels like it's going to BURST.  The God of the universe LOVED us SO much, that He created this magnificent display of His love for us - SO that (if we decide to) we could be with Him, one day!

You know what?  I may not have everything I want...or think that I need.  But I have MORE than enough.  I have a job, a family that loves me, friends that I couldn't thank God enough for, an incredible Church I call "home," a Home for myself (and those who may need a place to stay every once in a while, and a life that is FULL of adventure.

I actually feel pretty rich right now.  And it has nothing to do with the amount of possessions that I own.  In fact, I probably own the least amount of things that I have ever owned living here in NYC, but it's my heart that is rich and full.  I'm learning more and more how to be grateful for what I have...the people I am in relationship with, and the places I find myself every single day.

These things aren't accidents...they are purposed by God for my life.  I don't want to take that for granted.

I'll take what I have and make it large, beautiful, extravagant, plenty, enough, worthy, and worth it!

So, here's what I would say to you...if you are having a "LOW POINT"...take a moment and let joy fill your heart.  Laugh a little...seek something out that makes you laugh so hard that your stomach hurts.  This maybe the most difficult time of year for you, but let Jesus come into your heart and fill it with Joy and Peace.

Let Him redeem this Holiday for you.  He ABSOLUTELY CAN.

My only advise, take the hand of someone less fortunate than you (in some way), and lift their eyes to see Jesus through you.  Just because you are broken, doesn't mean you don't have anything to give.  You probably have more than you thought possible.  After all, you are attached to the ultimate Heart-mender...JESUS.

Fill your time with lending a hand...delivering gifts...scooping out portions of food for those who barely get one meal a day.  If you fill your time helping others (obviously in a healthy moderation...that's another blog for another time), you'll find your heart full of JOY.

This will be the most wonderful Christmas you have EVER had...I believe that.

Look up, look heavenward, and reach out.

Merry Christmas... (soon)

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