Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 December 2005 14:00:14
A combination of being able to talk things through with some friends last night, and having had a good (and very long!) nights sleep means I'm feeling more positive this morning. Today's another day and all that, and there's no way I'm going to let such things ruin my time at home, and my enjoyment of Christmas. There's my stubborn streak again..
Anyway, coming up to Christmas is always an enjoyable time, in recent years not so much related to the excitement of santa claus, but the traditions associated with it, and the ways in which I am reminded of what I believe is the reason behind all the merry-making. Aside from the fact that there are carol-singing opportunities aplenty (and, as those who know me will tell you, I'll take any chance I get to sing!) and reasons to make myself get in touch with old friends, the whole message of Christmas seems to permeate everything that happens in these few weeks. With advent calendars and lighting advent candles, singing carols, Christmas fayres, nativity plays and making and sending Christmas cards, it's difficult to control the feeling of... excitement is the best word I can think of, but it's kind of more than that. It's like a glow inside, which wells up when I sing particular songs, or hear certain bible passages read in church: "and the word became flesh and dwelt among us". That word. Emmanuel. Meaning He's here, with us, always. That's it, in a nutshell.
How can you not get excited about that? It makes me want to explain it to those who don't know, and make them understand, so they can feel it too. I don't know, that's probably about as close to evangelism as I get!
On a related note, I wanted to share something I read in my home church newsletter;
Christmas gift suggestions:
to your enemy, forgiveness
to an opponent, tolerance,
to a friend, your heart,
to a customer, service,
to all, charity,
to every child, a good example
to yourself, respect
To paraphrase the comment which follows it; many gifts given at Christmas will be unwanted and pushed aside, given to charity shops or consigned to the back of a drawer. The message of Christmas is that of God incarnate in Jesus. Coming as a vulnerable baby, living life as a refugee, an outcast, and a religious misfit. A gift which didn't seem to fit the purpose or the need. Yet it was, and remains so, the greatest and most important gift of all, which lasts forever, and can't be packed away or forgotten.