Some time back I took a commercial flight. Since most flights in recent years have been to or from where the grandchildren reside, I will guess this flight was one of those.
People-watching is fun in just about any environment. On an airplane is just as good a setting as most, perhaps better than many. People’s behavior and language informs me about human nature. I see them at both their best and worst.
It additionally proves entertaining to make up stories about folks simply by observing their appearance. This fellow here looks like he is on a business trip. He loves his sports. That gal over there is traveling to see family. She must be single and own two cats. The gentleman over there is an avid outdoorsman. Too bad he just lost his job. You’ve played this game, haven’t you?
I was looking over someone’s shoulder or across their lap as they were perusing a sales catalogue. What caught my eye was a phrase at the top of the page they were reading. The phrase was, “The Greatest Gift.”
Now they had my curiosity elevated! I rummaged about in the seatback in front of me looking for the same magazine my fellow passenger was leafing through. Once I had it in hand, I went looking for “The Greatest Gift” page.
How can anything in a catalogue be “The Greatest Gift”? I know the Greatest Gift and He is listed in another book. Wouldn’t you agree? No way was this advertisement genuinely offering “The Most Remarkable Endowment Ever.”
I was right. The actual heading announced products related to dogs and cats. Further, “The Greatest Gift… is to help others help themselves,” was the full slogan.
After I had found the page, read the ad, and had a moment to reflect on what was being claimed, I had an additional thought: the message seems kinda’ anti-gospel. The Good News tells us that while we were in our helplessness state, The Greatest Gift came to rescue us.
Helping ourselves wasn’t an option that worked for anyone. It was only when God the Father sent His Beloved Son that our hope was restored. It sure wasn’t us helping ourselves or anyone else. The Greatest Gift was Jesus. And the greatest help was Jesus.
Hopefully my musings haven’t upset any pet lovers out there.
The greatest gift ever wasn’t laid under a tree. It was laid in a manger. Merry Christmas!
Tim Gramly
Education Pastor
South Haven Baptist Church
December 22, 2009
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