Christmas

So what do we do with Christmas? It is not exactly like Valentine's Day which was invented by the Greeting Card industry, but it feels a lot like a contrived commercial endeavor. There is something in it for everyone, from toy manufacturers to credit card companies. I look forward to that aspect of Christmas less every year and I actually contemplate 'running away' in late November and returning sometime in early January.

As a Christian, I find myself searching, with great difficulty at times, for some meaning and profundity amidst all the flash and glitter. The fact that the Bible does not even suggest that we remember Christ's birth, makes it an even greater challenge. Should we even be doing this?

There is no doubt that Christ's birth was an incredible event, profusely and profoundly predicted, miraculously accomplished, and wonderfully told. Christ's life, His teachings, His death and His resurrection are the elements that define true Christianity. But in the light of Jesus' humble beginnings, there are some some incredible lessons.

The God of the universe came to Mary, a humble 12 year old girl of no special account other than that she was well versed in the scriptures and as a result had a sense that God knew what he was doing. Consequently, she was obedient and willing. Jesus' earthly father was a humble carpenter, a man who was probably deeply scorned because his betrothed was pregnant. Jesus was born in a stable, on a road trip, hardly what you would expect for someone of such great importance. Why the humble beginnings?

It is probably because God wanted to show mankind that he came for everyone, and each one of us has felt marginalized at one time or another. He did not identify with any power groups, the 'in' crowd, or people of influence. There was no agenda of concentrating power or privilege. This idea leads one to think that ' a saviour for mankind', and 'peace on earth and goodwill toward all men', is not in the collective sense, but more focused on the individual. I believe that God is in the business of dealing with us as individuals, more so than nations, peoples, and churches or denominations.

If this is truly God's intent, then we can rise above the madness of our modern day Christmas, see it for what it is and what it is not, and get down to the business of relating to this Saviour on an individual basis. Good will and peace starts with one on one.

If we really believe that God sent His son as a baby, to not only relate to us miserable humans, but to be a sacrifice for our wrongdoings, if we really believe that God is good, if we really believe that God loves us, if we really believe that God cares for us, it will impact our lives. For me, it will be the ability to rise above the worldly Christmas chatter, and meet God, through his son, face to face.

May each one of you have a very personal Christmas experience this year. May it happen while you are listening to a Christmas Carol, hearing or reading the Christmas story, watching your children or grandchildren taking in the wonders, or even in a quiet moment before or after the dinners and gift openings. May there be a point in time when you can say that you connected to the Saviour of the world, when you truly believed in Him and when you said to yourself that you totally trusted him.