Christmas Blues

I was feeling quite bah-humbuggish the past few days.  The demands of the season were starting to take their toll.  And, it wasn't the secular trappings of the holiday that really got me down.  In fact, there was very little of that in my home this year.  I hate to admit this but the real reason for going "all-Scrooge" was actually from the musical demands of my job as cantor and the assignments required of me as a theology student.  In the span of one week, I had to learn 8 different Gregorian chants, which for me, is exceedingly difficult as I am not well versed in the nuances of chant.  And, the stress of knowing that I am behind in my classwork was gnawing at me, consuming any thought I had left availble after learning the chant propers.

As I reflect, however, upon the real reason for my unease this Christmas, I realize that it wasn't the feeling of being overwhelmed but the fact that I forgot to give it all up to God. 

I can do all things in God who strengthens me.

How happy would He have been to come to my aid, especially as I prepared to do His work, if I would have just simply laid down my life before Him?  Here He was, knocking at my door, with outstretched hands, ready to lift my burden, and I kept saying, "So sorry, Lord, I'm too busy to answer right now. I've got too many things to learn."  I suppose I hadn't learned the most important lesson:

I can do all things in God who strengthens me. 

Today, now that I have had the opportunity to worship the Lord and spend a Sunday engaging in the work He wants me to do, laying my life fully before him and asking for his assistance, I have a completely different perspective. I really do understand now...

I can do all things in God who strengthens me.