By Doug De Graffenried

Mallory is my daughter-in-law. She was here this last weekend. There was a
shopping adventure on Saturday and that evening she was wrapped the presents.
Mallory is one of “those” gift wrappers. I stood and watched her wrap gifts. With
engineering precision, she made one cut of the wrapping paper. The ends of the gifts
wrapped were perfect. She used a minimum amount of tape. She did it with the skill of a
neurosurgeon and the speed of a NASCAR pit crew member. I gave up attempts at gift
wrapping decades ago. A gift bag is a blessing for people like me.

Mallory was so peaceful as she was wrapping at the speed of light.

This time of year, requires speed. Everyone promises it to us. The Postal
Service, UPS, and FedEx promise they are the speediest. I’m waiting for one of them to
promise overnight delivery on Christmas Eve. Although I think St. Nick and the Elf union
would fight that infringement on their gig. Amazon has amazing speed, but you pay for
it. Their free delivery takes from 3-5 business days, or you can opt for their expensive
express delivery which will arrive in 4-6 business days. In many cases the free shipping
is quicker than the express shipping you pay for. Go figure.

Here’s the thing, I’m wondering if we should be working on our “slowing skills.”

I lived in Natchitoches for ten years. I loved the Christmas lights! At the
residential end of the Church Street bridge there is a sign that says Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year. The challenge is that the traffic lights are directly in front of the
sign. So, if you are a visitor to that city and you don’t know that secret, you often are
challenged to see and follow the traffic lights.

I remember one evening trying to hurry home across the Church Street bridge.

In front of me was a van from the state of Hittite. (Don’t want to tell you the state
lest I offend.) This van was driving 2 miles an hour over the bridge at 5:30 p.m. These
out-of-state guests were looking at the wonderful light display on the other side of the
river. This nice van driver speeding at two miles an hour looking at the lights was not
looking at the road. Twice the van hit the curb on the Church Street Bridge. That is no
small curb. They didn’t seem too bothered by their dual collisions with the curb. At the
end of the road, they stopped at the green light. They met the big sign hiding the traffic
lights. I waited patiently for as long as I could stand it, then I sent them an audible
automotive suggestion that they complete their right turn.

Paul wrote, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under the law.” I wonder how long it took for time to fully come? Christmas
day is getting ever closer.

Maybe we would be more faithful witnesses to our faith if we learned some
slowing skills. Be patient with people in the parking lot, the check-out line, over worked
wait staff in the diner, and those you love who are also caught in the Christmas speed
trap. Be patient with those who are having their first Christmas without loved ones or
without their children being home. Practice patience with those who are not moving at
the same Christmas speed.

Learn “slowing skills” and wait, Christmas always arrives on time.

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