Linus drops his blanket

Sometimes, surfing the web when you should be working can prove to be useful (although don't depend on this habit!). I came across this article about the timeless Christmas classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and with it a wonderful observation about the things of the flesh that we often hold onto tightest.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes , lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. - Luke 2:8-14

Thanks to this article, I now see the cleverness and care of Charles M. Schultz's statement in the simplest of drawings and briefest of seconds.

Right in the middle of speaking, Linus drops the blanket.

Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt, and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up. 

Until this moment.  When he simply drops it.

In that climactic scene when Linus shares "what Christmas is all about," he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not" (at :38 seconds). 

Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it's so simple it's brilliant. 

The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears. 

The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves. 

The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

Furthermore, Linus picks up the blanket in the end. Why? Maybe because while on earth, setting aside our fears is a daily challenge. Or, perhaps, because Linus has found a better use for the literal "security blanket" that has come to define one of his personal flaws.

And what happens next? Charlie Brown takes his sad little twig of a Christmas tree and tries to find some beauty in it by adding an ornament. "I killed it! Everything I touch gets ruined!" Charlie Brown exclaims, as the tree looks like it will be broken in half.

Linus steps in. He takes that security blanket, the one that he dropped when he spoke the words, "Fear not!" and he wraps it around the little tree, finally giving it the foundation it needs to be equipped for its purpose.

Our biggest fears, the blankets we hold mostly tightly to, at some point we need to be able to testify to ourselves, "Fear not!" and then set them down and recognize the power of the Gospel. But then, don't forget about who we are. That thing that we hate about ourselves that we can't seem to let go of? The thing that God lovingly helps us set aside to pursue Him fully? Even that thing is not a waste. God redeems all things for His glory.

And the One seated on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." - Rev. 21:5