December 27 – “Camping Santa”

Today was our Vaughan Family Christmas Party.  This year it was hosted by my younger brother and his wife up in Houston.  When I was growing up the party location kind of rotated between our house and that of my cousins, the Castiglioni's (they lived over behind what is now the new convention center), with an occasional trip out to Spanish Grant to Uncle Jerry's.  The last few years the "next generation" has taken the reins, and we have been traveling to Houston for the big occasion.  We used to draw names for gifts (at Thanksgiving) and exchange the presents at the party.  That's always a tough situation, especially when you don't really know the person you draw.  I remember one year one of my guy cousins drew his young girl cousin's name.  He had no idea what to get her, so he went for one of the "girl defaults" – a doll.  Well, that didn't turn out so well.  See, she was a tomboy and didn't want anything to do with that (turn up your nose and sneer and say it as if it was turning your stomach) "doll."  The last few years we have switched to a White Elephant style ornament exchange.   That way everybody just brings a wrapped ornament and everybody goes home with one.    The ornaments this year were interesting.  One was actually a set of Christmas tree lights, but each light was a model of that leg lamp from the movie A Christmas Story.  Chris got one of those little Russian dolls within a doll within a doll things.  Several people got photo frames – a cat, a rocking horse, a heart.  There was a little replica of a griffin.  I asked my brother Jay what the animal's name was.  I thought he's say something like "Archie," since he is a USC alum.  But to my delight, he said, "Buckbeak," from the Harry Potter series.    Several of us opened ornaments that showed Santa Claus in various extracurricular activities.  In one he was riding a mountain bike, all dressed in the outfit he would need.  In another he was frying up a fish he caught during what was obviously a camping trip with his little Teddy bear friend (that's the one I got).  They made me think about the Santa in the fireman suit someone gave us earlier.  And the Santa dressed for a basketball game.  And the one in a bathing suit and shades – must be heading to Galveston, right?  Chris' favorite Santa statue of all time is the one where he has hat in hand and is kneeling before the baby Jesus in the manger.  All those Santas made me think about how believers come in all shapes and sizes – all occupations and interests – but they … we … all have one thing in common.  We all kneel before the same Savior.  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   (Philippians 2:9-11)   Father, receive our worship, whether it be from a Santa fireman or a Santa preacher or Santa nurse or a Santa kid.  Amen.