Spent last week trying to get the January issue of my magazine out (my paying day job). Finished up Friday afternoon late after pounding out about 5,000 words including a 3,500 word feature article that day. Of course, I had hours of research and interviews done before I started writing. The fact that it was Christmas season (Advent to you traditionalists 😉 really never sank in. Now I’m in planning and catch up mode again. And I can let Christmas sink in.
But…do you find this a sort of contradictory time? How were you brought up? Lots of gifts from Santa? For most of us it isn’t a “church” day where you gather with your faith family and worship. So it’s more of a good time with/for kids who open (probably way too many) gifts. I’m not grinch, but I think this has gotten way too overboard. It’s too hard to remember what we’re celebrating.
My wife got out all her Christmas-themed dishes, plates, mugs and the like a couple of weeks ago. Today, as is my custom, I brewed a cup of French Roast coffee, and sat down in my study to read from my current spiritual book (“The Cloud of Unknowing”). Then I looked at the mug–no, really looked. It said “Believe..in Christmas.” The picture on the mug–no you guessed wrong–was of Santa. Wait a minute. Just what are we believing?
Without going into the meaning of “belief”, let’s just look at the sentiment. If I believe in a God who seeks us out (prevenient grace that I was just discussing) and who got perturbed enough with those who were especially called to recognize that and develop a relationship and who then took extraordinary measures to really seek us out, then what I’m trying to “believe” about Christmas is that I need to also seek out this Jesus so that I can have that eternal relationship.
I’m giving you a gift because I love (agape) you. In so doing, I’m trying to reflect the love (agape) of God. In fact, it is only through love that we can know God. I just heard this morning that the people of the Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, IL gave 10,700 coats to a drive to keep poor kids warm this winter. That’s an agape gift. If I also give a gift to my wife, children and grandchildren in the spirit of agape, then that’s great. If I just feel some strange need to be loved or appreciated by giving lots of stuff, then there’s a problem.
Believe in Christmas? No, I know Christmas. And I hope all my gifts have nothing to do with making me feel better or make me feel greater, but that they all just reflect God’s love.
Tags: Christianity, Love
Faith Venture 
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