On The 1st Day of Christmas…

We made it?! …Welcome to another of this year’s Doug’s 12 Days of Christmas, at the intersection of the song, the children’s game, tradition, culture, and Christ-mas. If you’ve missed a few, check your in-box from yesterday, or ping Doug@doughowe.com. Today, finally… “First Day…”

One of our absolutely favorite family traditions has become Disney Epcot’s “Candelight Processional,” an enormous and gigantic production featuring a fine orchestra, heralding buglers, powerful choirs, celebrity narrators, Disney Cast members and our favorite…our daughter Jenelle! We make it down to Orlando to see it live when we can, and watch on video the other years. It is heart-warming not just because our daughter is in it, but because of the call to “Come and Worship” the newborn king, who brought “Joy to the World” so we can all “Hark” as the angels sing.

Jenelle has sang in shows led by everyone from Amy Grant to Jodi Benson, Steven Curtis Chapman to Michael W. Smith, Gary Sinise to Edward James Almos, Neil Patrick Harris to Whoopi Goldberg, Cal Ripken, Jr. to Gloria Estefan. They read the Christmas story from the Bible in between wonderful Christmas songs. And it all points to one life, one message, and one Big Piece of Good News for us.

And while they don’t do it anymore, they used to close every show with my favorite poem, one that I have read in my public speaking presentations from Burbank to Cincinnati, Utah to Hong Kong, Canada to Mexico, and parts in between. It goes something like this, and I hope it’s a blessing to you on this Christmas Eve:

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race And the leader of mankind’s progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life.

I hope that is encouraging or inspiring in this Christ-mas season, and thanks for joining along with me on this ride. I’ll have one more, so until tomorrow, the Bestest of the Best Blessings to you on this Christmas Eve, -Doug

12th Day…
…Good morning aviators, 12 points of the Creed.
11th Day…
…Baker’s miracle, 11 faithful disciples/learners.
10th Day…
…Ten Commandments, actually just two.
9th Day…
…Laker Girls, 9 fruits of the Spirit.
8th Day…
…The Sermon on the Mount, 8 Beatitudes.
7th Day…
…Swans are graceful, as are those who use their Gifts for good
6th Day…
…He Created the first six days, then rested.
5th Day…
…Belt it out! The First Fiiive Books of the Bible.
4th Day…
….Four perspectives/camera angles of Christ.
3rd Day…
…Three Great Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.
2nd Day…Part I
…The Impossible Mission: God came here!
2nd Day…Part II
…The Old and New Testaments tell one story.
1st Day…Part I
…The Grand Finale: One Solitary Life
1st Day…Part II
…