A question to ponder: Where is the Christ this Christmas?

This past weekend was the Christmas with Waldorf Concert and every year, Waldorf remembers to keep the Christ in Christmas.

They sing of the King of Kings and refer to the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God and through the scriptures speak of the Prince of Peace and Immanuel.

I remember those words coming from the book of Luke, the Christmas Story every year at Christmas Eve Candlelight Church. I remember just sitting there in awe at all the different names there are for the Lord. King of Kings, Everlasting Father, the list just goes on and on.

And then I would come out of church with my family and on the drive home see all of the Nativity scenes around town and think to myself that for each of those scenes, Baby Jesus could have a different name engraved into all of the mangers.

It doesn't matter what church you go to or what faith you are, because those Nativity scenes were in all of the lawns (including the courthouse) and they were there for everyone to take in as the beauty and true meaning of Christmas.

So why is it, that in this little, rural Iowa town that artist Norman Rockwell would have loved, there has to be a debate about a Nativity scene that appears once a year on the courtyard square and Christmas decorations that make our town look festive and jolly for the Holiday Season?

After umpteen years of that Nativity scene being there, because I remember it even as a child, why did the Grinch have to come this year and take it away? I say Bah Humbug to that!

If we start here, how far will all of us in Whoville, Iowa, let the Grinch take it? In ten years will I not get Christmas Day paid off of work?

Because we're already well on our way to that. Schools around the state are on “winter break” instead of “Christmas break.”

Schools are no longer giving a Christmas concert, but a holiday concert. Just how far will it go? If we can't sing songs like “Away in the Manger,” why can we sing songs of Santa who brings presents to our CHRISTmas tree?

The Christmas season is about love, family and compassion and this year and every year here after, I want our town of Forest City to remember that.

I want us all to think of the long list of names Christ the Savior has and let that help us keep the Christ in Christmas.

So as everyone sang together this past weekend at the Christmas at Waldorf Concert let us say together, “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates; Behold the King of glory waits; The King of Kings is drawing near; The savior of the world is here!”

Emily Christensen is a graphic designer at the Forest City Summit. She can be reached by phone at 585-2112 or by e-mail at news@forestcitysummit.com.