When we consider the season of Advent, our own actions and attitudes toward Christmas

appear vulgar, if not blasphemous. We have so commercialized the story of God that only a

hard right turn will put us back on course. In life, it seems that greed and not God controls us.

It is self-serving action and not sacrifices on any level that marks us and characterizes our

lives. We are heirs of the promise and joint-heirs with Christ, yet we live puny lives simply

because we do not know and live in the story.