A Lesson from Charlie Brown's Christmas
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward all.” (Luke 2:14)
• • •
On this day in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on television, and it has been a beloved holiday tradition ever since. With its simple animation and heartfelt message, the Peanuts special continues to resonate, reminding us of the deeper meaning of Christmas.
At the heart of the story is Charlie Brown’s search for meaning in the midst of holiday busyness and commercialism. Feeling lost and disillusioned, he wonders, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” His despair feels familiar, doesn’t it? We, too, can find ourselves overwhelmed during this season, caught between the pressures of holiday expectations and the longing for something more meaningful.
Linus answers Charlie Brown’s question by reciting the story of the shepherds in Luke’s Gospel. It’s a moment of quiet clarity in the chaos, a reminder that Christmas is about the arrival of something extraordinary: God’s love entering the world in the form of a child. The simplicity of that truth cuts through the noise, offering us the peace we so deeply crave.
There’s another moment in the special that’s worth noticing: when Charlie Brown picks out the humble, scraggly little Christmas tree. Others laugh at it, but Charlie Brown sees its potential. Isn’t that the heart of the Christmas story? God choosing the small, the overlooked, the humble—a manger instead of a palace, shepherds instead of kings—to reveal the greatest gift of all.
This holiday season, we are invited to follow Charlie Brown’s lead. To pause, to reflect, and to find meaning not in what glitters, but in what is real and true. Christmas reminds us that God’s love is not flashy or loud; it is simple, quiet, and profound. It is a love that enters the ordinary and makes it holy.
So today, as we remember this timeless special, let us carry its lessons with us. Let us find joy in the small and unexpected. Let us choose love over cynicism, humility over grandeur, and faith over despair. And like Linus, let us share the good news of God’s peace and goodwill with a world that desperately needs to hear it.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where do I feel the pressure of holiday busyness, and how can I reclaim the simplicity of the season?
How might I honor the humble and ordinary moments of my life as sacred this Christmas?
What does the message of God’s love and peace mean for me this year?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for the Season
Loving God,
In the midst of the holiday rush,
Help us to pause and remember what Christmas is truly about.
May we see Your love in the small and unexpected,
And may we carry the message of peace and goodwill in our hearts.
Teach us to live simply, to love generously, and to trust in Your presence.
Thank You for the gift of this season,
And for the light that shines in the darkness.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Finding the Sacred in the Ordinary
Today, reflect on the humble moments of your daily life. Where do you see signs of God’s love in the ordinary—like the scraggly little Christmas tree that became something beautiful?
Choose one way to embrace simplicity this season. It might mean spending less time shopping and more time with loved ones, or letting go of the pressure to create a “perfect” holiday and focusing instead on what truly matters.
Let this practice help you connect with the quiet, profound truth of Christmas: that God is with us, even in the smallest and humblest of moments.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
January 12, 2025, 3-4:30pm ET - Join me for a FREE conversation on “Progressive Islam – Universal Values vs. the Politics of Human Rights – What’s the Difference Between a Progressive Muslim and Other Muslims?” with Ani Zonneveld. Register here.
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Recently, I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
The word “unexpected” resonates with me. So much focus during this season is on preparation for what is coming. All the familiar images, music, words and traditions. A predictable, domesticated Christmas. Do we still have the capacity to be surprised, gobsmacked even?
If God can manifest in the birth of a child to peasant parents in an obscure backwater of the world, then God can manifest anywhere, in anything, at any moment. Incarnation all around. I am on the lookout for the unexpected God this Advent.