Hold onto
Christmas
My little living room is awash in nativity scenes. Just a five years ago my parents gave me my first one. Now, I have seven. I got two new ones
last year alone: in Haiti and in Bethlehem. Each year, it's a joy to rediscover them and prepare for Christmas.
This weekend, they will finally come down. I will pack the Marys and shepherds and donkeys back
in their boxes to wait in the basement another 11 months until they take their
places center stage again.
This year, I’m toying with
leaving out one Jesus when I put the rest away. When I see him, it would
serve as a reminder during the gloomy months of January and February that God’s promises came true. God is with us. It would remind me to live a Christmas
life all year around.
What is a Christmas
life? It’s a life that trusts God can
come into the bleakest of situations and transform them. It’s a life that gives generously toward
others in love. It’s a life that notices
the variety of people who bowed down to worship the baby Jesus and tries to build a
community to do the same. It’s a life
that recognizes the miracle of God-with-us every day of the year.
The theologian Howard
Thurman wrote this beautiful poem called The Work of Christmas:
When
the song of the angels is stilled,
when
the star in the sky is gone,
when
the kings and princes are home,
when
the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the
work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Whenever we do
something to remind others (or ourselves) that God’s love is real and
life-changing - even if it’s in July - it's as if we sing a Christmas carol.
“Joy to the world, the lord is come!”
Blessings on your year-round Christmas.
Be at Peace,
Pastor Sarah
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