“Christmas: Why?” Blog #99
Is Christmas my excuse to just buy gifts for people around me?
Have I said before “get me this or get me that” for Christmas?
Do I cave in to commercialized displays because it’s Christmas?
One Solitary Life:
by: Dr. James Allan
1926
'“He was born in an obscure village. (Christmas Day) the child of a peasant woman. He
grew up in another village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then
for three years he preached the word of God. He never wrote a book. He never held
office. He never had a family or owned a home. He never went to college. He never
visited a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where
he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no
credentials but himself. Then when he was only thirty three years old, the tide of public
opinion turned against him. His friends left him, and one of them denied even knowing
him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was
nailed to a cross between two thieves. While dying, his executioners gambled for his
clothing, the only property he had on earth. (Before he died he said, “Father forgive them,
for they know not what they do”.) When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed tomb,
through the kindness of a friend. Now twenty two centuries have come and gone. Yet
today HE is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress. All
the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the
Parliaments that have ever sat, all the Kings that ever reigned, all put together, have not
affected the life of mankind on earth, as much as this ONE SOLITARY MAN, Jesus Christ.
It’s crazy times out there today. Walk in any store, shop at any mall and wait in any line.
People are frenzied, preoccupied and tied down with troubles. So I try to visualize how
Christmas comes into play in my life right now. The chaos and the constant noise. The
shoppers and the “stuff for sale”. Everywhere I look there is pretense. Even at the donation
centers or charities. “Take your phone and scan the barcode for a person to donate to.”
Seriously, this sort of brings it all up a notch, especially when it says; “sorry, that group ls
filled”. How many of us now thinking, “I just want to get through the holidays and then it
will all be over.” How many times have I thought this and felt unnecessary pressure for
nought. The Jesus that I learned about as a child and read about as an adult, kind, loving,
good. Nothing to be afraid of! On the contrary, when he lived he healed anyone, that
came to see him as a “healer”. A young, God that came to earth only for us. All these
years of speculation and fear and pushing him away for no justifiable reason except
ignorance. Now we live in a world fraught with war. Crime and hatred are rampant.
Fights, and drugs and drinking. What kind of misplaced celebrating because it’s
Christmas? Probably the best news of all and it isn’t cheesy or corny.
Jesus is truly a best friend waiting, just waiting and ready to be there for you and me.
It’s Christmas. Almost everything and anything taking precedent over the real reason for
celebrating Christmas Day. Still, it can all change in a breath if we but so decide. It’s up to
each one of us.
Now is a good time to find a way to let my big wall down. I can take a moment and see a
family member through Jesus’ eyes. As busy as my day gets, I take time out for a quiet
prayer. I can try hard to believe today because this is truth and miracles are all around
me if I but open my eyes. Angels are disguised in people walking here now.
I, for one, am going to church this Christmas. I, for one, am going to seek out HIS peace.
I, for one, am going to respect what Jesus Christ did for me his whole life. From a little
baby to a child to a grown man. HE lived my pain, HE knows my pain, HE takes it away.
Wikipedia defines Christmas; “the annual festival celebrating Christ’s birth held on
December 25th. The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of modern
Christmas and celebration, making it the most profitable time of year for retailers and
businesses throughout the world.”
A true irony is HE gives us authentic love in a simple, quiet, all encompassing way. I seem
to look for love in the material, busy, crazy living of each day. I do not need to be so afraid
to learn about him, seek him, and find him internally. It’s actually a great relief. It actually
feels like a giant weight has been taken from me. The weight of all my worry and stress
and fear. I want to believe this now. How to do it differently? This Christmas I am
determined to reflect, respect and rely on HIS BIRTH first. There is nothing to be afraid of
when all I am inviting in is pure, divine love.
Am I willing to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ in a way I feel HIS love?
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