DRIVING OFF IN THE CAR-LEAVING JESUS BEHIND by Jim Martin/euronitram54@gmail.com

   I was having a conversation the other day with a good friend in Indiana (David Stevenson) and the subject was the fact that Christmas has become so commercialized that the real meaning has just been left behind. He then said something profound about the family driving off in the car and leaving Jesus behind while traveling to celebrate Christmas extended Family. It meant even more when he reminded me of how Jesus was left behind by his family and they had to travel a full day to go back and pick him up. David told a friend in Indiana about this (Mike Vanouse) and he wrote a paragraph about the happening and compared it to today. The below is what Mike wrote in quotation.

"According to Luke 2:41-50, when Jesus was a
 boy, His family packed Him up every year and took a trip to Jerusalem
 to celebrate Passover. When He was 12, the family got so caught up in
 the festivities of the holiday that when they packed up to return
 home, they FORGOT TO LOOK FOR JESUS and assumed that He was among
 them. They traveled for a whole day before they realized that He
 wasn't in their midst. They had to turn around and GO BACK to where
 they were to look for Him. He was in the temple doing His Father's
 business. Fast forward to America today: a land flowing with milk and
 once were honey. Every year families pack up the kids and travel across the
 country to celebrate the night that God came to Earth as Jesus to
 deliver us from captivity to sin. Christmas. We spend lavishly to
 erect decorations, exchange gifts and keep the moneychangers in
 business.  But at some point we'll take stock of ourselves and
 realize that we've been caught up in festivities and have traveled
 very far, FORGETTING TO LOOK FOR JESUS, assuming that He is among us.
 Meanwhile, He hasn't gone anywhere. He sits in the Temple not made
 with hands and conducts our Father's business. It falls to us to
 turn around, go back to where we once were as a nation and look for
 Him again."
 
  So just how do we drive off as a family for Christmas and leave Jesus behind ?  My Mother told me an embarrassing story about how I was traveling with she and Dad on the way back to Mississippi and after fueling up, we drove away leaving her in the restroom. Since I was too young (thank goodness) and did not remember that happening, I was gasping at this point in the story and asked,"HOW could we have done that"? She just laughed with her little giggle and said the owner offered to immediately go after us---but she said no,  "because we would be back". She said that we came right back as predicted but I have never gotten over the fact that Dad and SON could drive off and leave her. I thought that only happened in the movies !!!.
  So next time we drive to another State or across town to celebrate Christmas--we need to make sure Jesus is WITH us. If we get in the car to go anywhere --"anytime" of the year--we need to have Jesus with us. When we wake up and go to bed, we need to have Jesus with us.
  For those who know me well--you know I am not overly--in your face--religious but I try to live right and be a good Christian while influencing others with what I consider helpful ways to live a better life. David's statement just caught my attention and I felt moved enough to write about it. I hope you enjoyed it and further hope you will benefit from an extra passenger.
Jim Martin