Wow, what a few days! Mostly centered around weather - here in central Texas things have changed drastically. From nearly 80 degrees on Christmas Eve, with our house open and sun shining, this morning there is a wind chill of 25 and a large portion of this state and others has been devastated by killer tornadoes, a record setting blizzard and treacherous weather. How quickly things change!
I see many people 'change' just as dramatically. It is as if the clock strikes midnight on December 26 and "ok, i'm done - Christmas is over". The boxes are packed up, the lights are taken down and in some cases our patience, tolerance, generosity and "peace and goodwill" go back in the attic as well. For some it may be easier to wait and hope for a miracle when surrounded by the beauty of the Christmas season, but when the sparkles and glitter are boxed away our despair or doubt creeps back in.
Christmastide (Christmas Day through January 6 - Epiphany) is our real season of giving. We often hear the story presented as the 3 wise men, or 3 kings that came to visit baby Jesus in the stable. (They were astronomers and traveled a long distance, arriving to see Jesus when he was at his home, and when you study the story you will learn that they first visited Herod, thinking that this new "king" must be at the royal home. What followed could be an entire book!) Herod is so threatened he orders the killing of boys under age 2. Violence and fear are certainly not what we expect from this Christmas story. There are also accounts that had to have been troubling for Mary and Joseph. Here they were with their new baby and believing that he was the child of God, sent to save their people. When they take young Jesus to be presented at the temple this is the record of an encounter they have with a man named Simeon:
Luke 2:25-35 At that time there was a man from Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required. Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations and he is the glory of your people Israel!" Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will bring joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul".
Not exactly comforting words! Also not the feel good story we hear all through Advent. So now the work of Christmas begins. As we wade through the days to come, starting to focus on a new year and what it will hold for each of us, this is when we each should really ask "why Jesus"? It is easier to pack that manger scene away, along with all of the other decorations, and settle back to whatever was troubling you before and just pick it back up. We also have new worries and setbacks - people dying just one day after Christmas in horrible night time tornadoes, flooding and more. There have also been people dying each day from violence, starvation and homelessness all over the world each day that we have been celebrating Christmas. Our focus has simply been on the sparkles and 'fun' that have filled our homes. Just as Simeon stated, Jesus came "to bring joy". He was sent as a sign from God, and our job is to recognize that 'sign' and show it to others. "Here's your sign!"
I have some in my family that already have taken down all their signs of Christmas. The decorations are nicely packed away and homes are neatly back in order. I will do the same over the next few days, first my Santa things will be put away, and I will arrange some snow and winter decor in those areas. Though we have 25 wind chill today, and it really feels like winter, I also know that this is Texas - and we could be back in flips flops in a few days! So I like my home to at least look like winter for a little while. I also have some things I leave out all year - like this quote from Charles Dickens that hangs in my kitchen:
I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. C. Dickens
I look at this pretty stitchery, hanging above my pantry, quite often. When we 'honor' something we are giving it importance. So by reminding myself throughout the year of those things I have been writing about, I'm more likely to make them part of my daily life: loving, giving, serving. It's not always easy! As we see people that have lost everything in these horrific tornadoes, it would be easy to say "Why, God?!" The promise of Christmas is not that life will be easy. As Simeon also stated, many will oppose him, and the deepest thoughts of our hearts will be revealed. What are the deepest thoughts that will be revealed in you? As you put away your "Christmas cheer" will judgment, sarcasm and criticism be revealed? Or will compassion and acceptance be the sign you carry? As we journey through these next few days of Christmastide to complete our journey, keep asking "Why Jesus" and listen for what you can learn from him- then carry your sign proudly!
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