It's Looking a Lot Like Christmas

Notice that I didn't quote the famous Christmas song...that would just be too easy. But with an early morning dusting of snow, it is looking a whole lot like Christmas is nearly here.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I absolutely love this time of year, and especially because of the beauty I see in my fellow members of the human race - at least the ones I am in personal contact with. Without a doubt this season brings out the best in many, many people, and I am grateful for it.

I was reflecting on this a bit today as we spent the day with my wife's side of the family, at least some of them anyway. Her siblings have managed to produce children who specialize in producing more children, it seems. Visits with the J clan are very crowded, energetic, a bit chaotic and tiring, but always very fun and full of love.

This year, for the first time in a long time, we did not make the trek across the Cascade mountains to the home of her sister, who in years past (due to having the largest house) has hosted the family get-togethers. With siblings, parents, children of siblings and children of the siblings' children we number in the mid-30s. Quite a crowd. But this is a year of transition. Big sister and her husband are trying to sell their house, so we can't be in there making a mess.

So instead, big brother and his wife, along with their youngest daughter and her hubby (and three cute kiddos) made the trek over to our side of the mountains to spend a "Pre-Christmas Christmas" at the home of their eldest daughter (& hubby and three kiddos).

Because schedules are what they are this year, we had a gift exchange this morning for the families present (and in absentia). What a hoot! Monday, all of us will have a traditional Christmas gift time with our own little family units, but this was "THE BIG ONE" for the extended family and a great time. I never tire of seeing the faces of the little ones light up as they open yet another toy and shriek with excitement! Seemingly forgetting the toy they just shrieked about a minute or two earlier.

Yeah. Christmas is all about giving. Our Lord gave us hope for eternal life in heaven by coming to earth in human form - in the most humble and helpless form possible. A baby, born in a manger and wrapped in humble cloth. I still think that gift, which shook the world and which led directly to the ultimate sacrifice that would change the universe, has generated a ripple effect that crosses time and space to touch us all in this season.

I also believe that if we will pay attention and attune ourselves, as some I know have. We can feel it every day of the year. It's the reason people perform random acts of kindness, wait politely in a long line and treat the clerk with a courteous, respectful smile instead of complaining. It's why we choose to prefer others before ourselves. It's why we give. It's why we love. And the cool part is...some of us even know why - so we do it consciously and with purpose - following the example, as best we can, of the ultimate giver of good gifts.

Merry Christmas, and God bless us - every one!

'Tis the Season...

The photo at right is a still image from the new movie, The Nativity Story, which I haven't seen yet, but intend to this weekend. From what I've read it is a pretty faithful account of the birth of Jesus, as told in the Gospels. I can hardly wait to see it for myself.
I've been thinking about the season and the yearly controversy over whether retailers should greet us with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." To me, it's not such a big deal because it is a season of several holidays. For me, it's Merry Christmas, thank you.
I love Christmas. There is no denying that something about this season brings out the best in many people.
Oh, sure, there are a few "Scrooges" around, and curmudgeons. There are also people who, through no fault of their own, suffer profound depression at this time of year as it often emphasizes and/or magnifies a loss they've suffered. I feel for them, deeply, and pray for their healing whenever I encounter them. But for the most part this is, as I said before, a season that brings with it much good.
Why is that? I have many extended family members, in my family and through marriage, who don't have a clue who Jesus really is and, frankly don't want to know. But even the ones who most hostile to any mention of God or Jesus find themselves almost inexplicably drawn to acts of generosity and kindness. They find themselves being more patient and kind and so excited for Christmas day, when they can see if they've guessed right and blessed their loved ones with "just the right gift."
Could it be that we are all responding to the spiritual shock waves of the greatest gift ever given, around 2000 years ago? Could it be that the God of the universe, in giving His only Son created such a splash in the time/space continuum that the ripples lift us each year to a higher than normal awareness of the Spirit of giving that emanates from that gift? For it was indeed a magnificent gift, and one that was given by God the Father, Jesus Himself, and the Holy Spirit. A three-fold expression of the ultimate gift by the triune God simply has to have ramifications, don't you think?
I don't really have any answers to this quandary, but I love to think about the mental picture it gives me, an image of huge ocean waves of grace, mercy, kindness, generosity, and love washing through the universe, lifting the the cork of earth upon which we sit and, just for a moment, allowing nearly everyone to experience the joy of giving for the sake of giving.
Merry Christmas, and God bless us, every one!