What are you guys doing for Christmas? It’s kind of an interesting question because for the most part, we do the exact same things we did the year before. We get excited about lights, tinsel, trees, extra sweets, crazy sweaters, delicious feasts, skiing, sledding, sitting by the fire, Christmas TV specials etc. These are things we romanticize heading into the Christmas season. We seem to forget crowds, jammed parking lots, obligatory work parties, massive meal prep (and clean up), crazy Uncles and drunk Aunts (remember if you can’t identify one of those in your family, it probably means YOU are that Aunt or Uncle.)
Of course, over the past few years, conversations have gotten a bit more “delicate” around dinner tables or company Christmas parties, to the point where it doesn’t always feel like a season of peace. We also recognize that Christmas ends up being a difficult time for a lot of people. Sometimes it’s a reminder of family loss or it illuminates financial difficulties or stretches already tight schedules to the point of breaking.
The first Christmas wasn’t all glitter and lights, either. There were oppressive rulers, poverty, long journeys, exile, etc. In fact, there were many circumstances and events during that time that were awful rather than being awe-filled. That’s part of the reason we turn our heads and hearts to charity this time of year. Yes, gift giving is a reflection of both the wisemen’s gifts given, and a celebration of God’s gift to us in Jesus. But we also look more intently to help the wanderer, the refugee, the impoverished and the marginalized, because they are all represented in the Christmas story. Take some extra time and re-read the accounts of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels and notice who the story involves.
So what are you guys doing for Christmas? Maybe we should make this Christmas special by taking to heart a possibly-familiar verse: “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God.” Sometimes we focus on wanting to “get justice” rather than “just us” doing the right thing, right now. There is always space for large charitable campaigns doing great work, etc., but how about starting with justice in your backyard, at the dinner table? Love mercy, be quick to forgive, quick to be generous… even to those you might consider enemies. What a Christmas gift!! Walk humbly: in a world of self-focus and self-promotion it’s a refreshing gift to be “other-facing”. Can I also say it’s really good for your soul as well? Maybe this is what we can do for Christmas this year. I hope you have a truly awe-filled Christmas.
