Some Thoughts

In the last three weeks, two of my friends from high school have had babies.  Welcome to the world Diana and Ivy!  It’s interesting to me that this baby boom has happened at Christmas time, when we are celebrating the birth of another baby.  I am very grateful for this timing, because the two births have really helped me to stay focused on the true meaning of the Christmas season.  Just ask the parents of Diana and Ivy – birth is filled with joy and excitement, with anticipation and hope about what the future will hold.

Especially this year, when the economy is sagging and anxiety is high, I have been treasuring that joy and excitement that Christmas brings.  In celebrating the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the hope he brought to the world not only two thousand years ago, but also today.  In the midst of what sometimes seems like a very dark world, the light of Jesus continues to shine brightly.  May you recognize that light in your own life this Christmas.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”  John 1:5

During our youth class last Sunday, we each wrote a haiku poem, titled “Jesus Is.”  They turned out great, and are a wonderful reminder about the one whom we celebrate this Christmas season.  I want to share just a few of them . . .

A hero to us, A great light in the darkness, A world saver.

Water in the pond, Color in our souls, Family and friends.

Jesus is a shepherd, Jesus is our Savior, Jesus is God’s son.

Jesus is the man, Jesus is our great Savior, He keeps us from sins.

Jesus is powerful, Jesus is the Son of God, He gave us Christmas.

Jesus is Savior, He cleared our sins from our souls, Jesus loves us all.

Is Christmas really just two weeks from yesterday?  Where has the time gone?  I have not bought any presents, baked any cookies, or found my tree.  Surely Christmas can’t come before I’ve done all of those things, right?

Indeed, December 25th will arrive regardless of whether or not we’ve accomplished everything on our Christmas “to do” list.  Mary and Joseph weren’t exactly ready for Jesus to be born, but he came anyway - into a dirty, smelly barn.  So, whether or not we feel “ready,” Christmas is coming.

We celebrate Jesus’ birth once a year, but I always try to remind myself that God is in fact born into our lives each and every day.  Are you ready to receive God into your life on a daily basis?  I know I’m not.  Some days just feel to dirty, messy, and smelly to have a place for God.  But, aren’t those the days when we most need to be aware of the presence of God?  Aren’t those the days when we most need the strength and comfort of God’s love?

God doesn’t care what the state of our lives are, or if we are feeling “ready.”  God loves us just as we are – entering into our smelly, dirty lives.  Rather than worrying about being prepared, however, may we welcome God in, and journey with God through all of the messiness of our lives.

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

The season of Advent began last Sunday.  This is the time of about four weeks before Christmas that we, as Christians, take to prepare for the birth of Jesus.  The hope is that we will do more than decorate a tree, buy presents, and bake cookies in preparation for Christmas day.  In addition to all of those very fun things, we also should take some time to consider what the birth of Jesus really means to our lives and to our world.

Jesus was a radical - someone who challenged the cultural norms that served to oppress people and who spoke his mind when he recognized injustice occurring.  He angered those in power and alienated many in his quest to see God’s love made known to the world.

So when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate more than a tiny baby being born.  We celebrate all that Jesus said and did in his ministry – and we proclaim our desire to continue to live out his teachings and to see God’s made known to the world.  Are you ready for that?  For what that might mean in your life?  Take some time this Advent season to prepare – really prepare – for the birth of Christ into your life.

“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.”  Isaiah 40:3a