“Cynicism is so pervasive that, at times, it feels like a presence. Behind the spirit of the age lies an unseen, personal evil presence, a spirit. If Satan can’t stop you from praying then he will try to rob the fruit of praying by dulling your soul.”
— Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life

“How have you been dealing with the tiger?” The question took me aback, but I immediately knew what my friend meant.
“Well, I am not quite sure what to do with him,” I said. We both knew that our conversation wasn’t going to be about tigers. She had addressed something which some may call “the elephant in the room.” You know, the big thing, the I-wish-it-wasn’t-so thing. Quite frankly, I’d take an elephant over a tiger any day. Tigers are so very unpredictable. They lurk and pounce, waiting for the right moment to attack. They knock you out and will eat you alive – especially around Christmas.

I noticed my tiger in the basement the day after Thanksgiving when I decided to decorate the house for Christmas. Unsuspectingly, the sneaky creature tried to pounce on me when I sat on the floor to open my favorite box of ornaments. I was just about to unwrap a few glass memories when suddenly I smelled something foul. He must have been waiting for his chance to devour me. Without warning, I found myself on the defensive and even angry. At first I tried to ignore him, but the more I did, the angrier he got. Looking back, I wish I would have been more careful heading into his territory. My mind twisted and turned as I tried to find a way to immobilize him. I could chuck a few ornament at him. Some of the ornaments were outdated, didn’t make me as happy as they once had. They would make great ammunition. But maybe I would be better off to abandon all of Christmas and run for the hills, up the stairs. Who would even notice if didn’t put up a tree this year? It’s wasn’t like we had people over all the time. I could leave all this stuff to the tiger. Yes. I would not have Christmas this year – lock the tiger in the basement with all things Christmas. By next year he’d be starved to death. For sure.

***

“Guess what I found?” My friend had a smile on her face as she came toward me in the hobby store. Red and white fifty-percent-off labels hung on various shelves of Christmas decorations. Black Friday was a day behind but the deals on brand new Christmas decorations were still going on.
“You need some new memories,” she said as she held a small tiger ornament in her hand.

That night I headed to the basement, not alone, but with support. We hauled the bag with the fake spruce up and slid the layers in place. Slowly, as I bent the branches upward, the tree took shape. After we strung the lights and placed a few new ornaments, I bent down and hung the pieces of the nativity on the lowest branch – first the shepherds, then the donkey, then Joseph and Mary, then the baby in the manger, and then … the tiger. He seemed a lot more manageable, there by the manger.

An Imago Dei Prayer
“Lord you have made me in your image when it comes to justice. Remind me that ultimately you are the Only Just One. Teach my heart not to grow cynical, bitter, or angry when things don’t turn out the way I hoped. Teach me to submit my life continually to Christ.”

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7