I came close a few times, but never have owned a car with the thick velour
seats of the 70-80’s. Can you remember the sofa like padded cushions of the
luxury cars at the time, not only in the crushed velour that was at one time
popular, but in earth colors, that made them even worse? A seat you sank into,
that looked comfortable, but provided no form of support, and after a few miles
became uncomfortable. Like those big padded motorcycle seats that some buy,
claiming they are comfortable, but have a huge decorative button in the middle,
after a few miles it feels like a needle, all in the name of style. My cars
in the 70’s mostly had vinyl, cold in winter or hot in summer, remember your leg
sticking to them in shorts, or that fake looking velour with no nap on it that
looked worn after 15 minutes. Close but never the rich, velvet looking velour
that we all wanted, but that was reserved for the moneyed few.
I sold AMC cars and Jeeps in 1977, the cars still had the seats that folded
flat into a bed from the 50’s, the Jeeps had the Levi’s style vinyl, which
looked way cool, and was. We sold more used than new cars, SUV’s weren’t hot
yet, and one used car we had was a Cordoba. A Chrysler Cordoba, the one that
made Ricardo Montalban famous for his words “fine Corinthian leather.” But this
one had velour seats, and a few who looked at it lost interest when they spotted
it instead of the FCL. One guy even wondering “is it still a Cordoba if it
doesn’t have fine Corinthian leather?” He may have had a point....
Yet FCL was an option and many out there didn’t have it, as can be attested
to today, see one at a car show, most likely velour, which makes the i-diot
generation think it is cool. They obviously never heard old Ricky M. bragging
about the FCL in that wonderful accent. But in all these years of having
leather seats in cars, I have never been asked, nor am sure what a Corinthian
is, and what makes its leather so desirable. I have heard of Connolly leather
in British cars, MB Tech, their vinyl look like, Morrokide, that GM vinyl from
the 60’s that never wore out, but have never seen of a Corinthian. Any help out
there?
I love the song Silent Night, almost brings tears to my eyes sometimes, but
I have always wondered about a person mentioned in it. One line reads “round
yon virgin, mother, and child,” we know Mary is the mother, Jesus is the child,
but who or what is a round yon virgin? I have asked pastors, worship leaders,
and now you, what or who is the round yon virgin? Obviously important enough to
be mentioned along with Jesus and Mary, have I misinterpreted words like my
friend Bruce did long ago with Paperback Writer, he would sing “take a fast
right turn,” and we would laugh. And so the mystery of the round yon virgin
remains to this day....
But also I question the silent night part of that night. Inns were not
like today, no reservation desk, and thousands were on the road for a census.
Mary was with child, and was offered a place in the stable, maybe not even a
barn, but an area broken into camp sites, loud, dirty, and with no privacy.
After giving birth, Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough, carved out of
stone that animals were fed from, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, strips of
cloth the dead were buried in, like a mummy, the same type of clothes he would
be buried in prior to his resurrection. Not the most sanitary, private, or even
place for lyrics to a song, but yet I believe all was calm, as God was with
them, Emmanuel means God with us. Even as a newborn, Jesus was still fully God,
and full man. Sleeping in a heavenly peace we cannot imagine, our infinite
minds cannot comprehend the things of heaven. So maybe the lyrics writer is
forgiven, perhaps has insight that the congregation doesn’t, maybe something to
consider the next time we sing Silent Night. Surely in God’s eyes, all was
well, and all was bright, even in the middle of the night. His light shining
forth in a fallen world, for he is light, in him is found no darkness at all.
Do you believe or are you still wandering, while wondering about his miracle
conception and birth? It takes faith to believe, for God said it, maybe I
should lighten up the round yon virgin, whoever they may be.
Yet some seek comfort in religion, philosophy, or riches, and fall short of
God’s glory. They may even sing the songs at Christmas, but the words fall
short of reaching their heart and they miss the blessing. Just a song for the
season, and after Christmas the DVD’s are put away until next year. They are
seeking but they are not wise, the wise men knew of a savior, they didn’t expect
a child, today wise men still seek him, a baby who came humbly into the world to
save us from our sins. How could a baby born in a stable, wrapped in death
clothes, make such a difference in the world? Is it possible he really is who
he said he was? Or are you like the used car buyer, who wonders, after hearing
the ads about rich Corinthian leather? Can it really a Cordoba without it? So
much was made of it in the ad...
Why do we believe the words in a car ad, yet doubt the words of God, the
word of God, who Jesus was? How many are sitting on a vinyl seat of religion
when you can be wrapped in the luxury of the truth? There are no options when
you come home to Jesus, you get it all, only your faith keeps you from all of
God’s blessings. The truth is Jesus is Lord, and science or the world may not
care what you believe, but Jesus does. All the world celebrates a holiday this
time of year, the Jews Hannakuh, and Christians Christmas, the day of Christ.
Even those who don’t believe like to get gifts, and some even give, but where is
Christ in your Christmas? In your heart? Is it really Christmas without
Jesus? One last thing for those who doubt the time of year....
We celebrate Christmas in December, the 25th, yet history records Jesus
physical birth as sometime in September, it was around Yom Kappur, the day of
atonement, so they don’t believe based on a calendar date. But don’t try to
outsmart God, the Jews believe life begins at conception, go back nine months
from September and you get December, the time of the conception of Jesus, the
date when his life began in the womb of a virgin. His virgin conception. We
get two times to celebrate, and real Christians celebrate him everyday. We
invite you to the party this year, today, consider this an invite to eternity,
to the real party, to the real Jesus. Not an option, you must believe to enter
the kingdom of God. Christmas cannot be Christmas without Jesus, as for fine
Corinthian leather.....seems the Corinthians had some strange views on
Christianity...don’t you be fooled. Can it really be Christmas without Jesus?
As for who was that round yon virgin......
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com