During this past Advent season as my wife and I prepared to welcome Jesus anew into our story, I enjoyed reading many inspiring thoughts of Jesus coming to live among us.  But after reading the following tweet, I must say I was disturbed.  I could not get the one sentence out of my mind. 

On Christmas Eve, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont sent out the following tweet: “It was the labor movement that brought you the holiday weekend.”  The day before, Sanders had tweeted: “The Democratic Party must once again become the party that stands for the working class in this country.”  To me, this is mixing ideology with religion. 

I have intentionally tried to stay out of politics in this blog, instead taking my stand on “Jesus and His kingdom.”  But Senator Sanders’ quote was just too much for me. The message seems intended to change the narrative of Christmas.  Associating the labor movement with any religious “holy day” seems to warrant outcry – if not at least a good bit of clarification.

When looked at through one lens, this sitting senator seems to imply that the Christmas tradition was brought by the labor movement to a culture starving for some “Good News”.  However, it was the angeI of the Lord who told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).  I respect the Senator for his courage to foster positive change in our country.  I do not, however, share the view that “the labor movement” is responsible for Christmas. 

First, the senator seems to be total disregarding history. Christmas, which celebrates the birth of God’s only begotten Son by the Virgin Mary has been celebrated for 2,000 years all over the world.  The early labor movement may have played a role in President Grant’s 1870 declaration of Christmas as a federal holiday, but regardless of Grant’s declaration, the birth of Jesus would still be celebrated.  The light might go dim, but it will never go out. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5 NLT).  Certainly not a U.S. Senator’s voice.

Secondly, equating the “labor movement” with Christmas can be perceived as bordering on idolatry.  Could it be that a human construct, which has helped many Americans raise their standard of living, has become a religion for some?  I grew up among iron miners in Northern Michigan.  I see how labor unions have helped struggling families. My people were solidly union.  But Senator Sanders, only the gospel of Jesus Christ can save us.  The elderly Simeon, upon seeing the baby Jesus, proclaimed, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.” (Luke 2:30-31). 

Thirdly, Christmas (the birth of Christ) really happened. The Creator of the universe sent his Son into the world, to bring all of us together through his death on the cross. Christ’s birth, death and resurrection happened so we could have the peace our world so desperately seeks. “For God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:19).

Finally, our contemporary, secular world will never drown out the music heard throughout the heavens, giving worship and praise to Lord Jesus.  It will go on for all eternity. “To him, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever” (Rev 4:13).       

As a football fan, I read with interest the news that coach Bronco Mendenhall recently resigned as head football coach of the Virginia Cavaliers.   It came as a shock to the administration and especially the fans – particularly because the team won nine games and went to the Orange Bowl in 2019, and the university’s program has been quite successful with Mendenhall as coach.

The coach said it was 100% his choice. “He has done an exceptional job of not just transforming the program, but elevating the expectations for the program,” noted Virginia Athletic Director Carla Williams. Referring to Mendenhall’s impact on the players, Williams said, “He is more than a football coach, and the impact he has had on these young men will be a positive influence for the rest of their lives.” 

Reading between the lines, I take it that Coach Mendenhall is a man of integrity, with a wholesome character that rubbed off on his players.  But in terms only a coach could have expressed, Mendenhall said that after “31 years of straight football…I need to step back from college football.”  He felt he had to “reassess, renew, reframe, reinvent with my wife as a partner [my emphasis] our future and the next chapter of our life.”  He and his wife Holly were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year, so he felt this was the best decision for him to make.  Even his wife was shocked.  But the coach felt he needed to do this to be “the very best person I can be moving forward.” 

Wow! I really admire this coach!  You could tell in his short video on Twitter that sincere words were coming from a man who had his priorities straight.  Not many coaches would walk away from a successful program to “renew, reframe, reinvent, and reconnect in his marriage.”  I tip my Kansas State football cap to the coach.  I wonder: how many coaches would walk away from the fame and glory that accompany a successful football program?   

What can we learn from the Coach Mendenhall’s example?  First, he certainly is an exemplar in establishing the right priorities for marriage.  He thought of his wife as a “partner in the next chapter of our life.” 25 years is a milestone in any marriage.  In the next phase of their marriage, he wanted to his wife’s input as his “partner” as he attempts to “reframe, renew, and reinvent” his marriage.  That takes some serious relationship work on his part. 

Men, I encourage you to include your wife in all those transitions in life and have the courage to include her as an equal partner in reevaluating your marriage.  It could be an anniversary, the empty nest, or even a physical move.  For my bride and me, it was our recent move to a senior apartment away from the lake. It was a mutual decision. I thank the Lord since the move was more difficult for me than it was for my bride. Judy helped me to “step back” and continually reevaluate the decision we had made together.

Secondly, the coach had the courage to say to the world, “My marriage is more important than my coaching career.”  My hunch is that the coach was more concerned about improving his marriage of 25 years than becoming more successful with the “X’s and O’s” of the game of football.  He was not willing to sacrifice his marriage on the altar of the Virginia Football program.  Men, tending to the demands of your marriage is more important than the demands imposed on you by your chosen career.