Today’s scripture: Isaiah 43:19 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
One year, my family decided to do something really different for Christmas. Instead of a gift exchange among the adults, everyone pooled what they would have spent on presents and instead gave to a poor family that really needed it. My sister-in-law delivered a turkey dinner and presents to a single mother and her three kids, and then told us how absolutely excited and thankful they were. It transformed how I thought about Christmas, and my family was so fulfilled by the experience that we decided to do it again the next year.
So what’s Christmas all about, really? Christmas means walking into a new world of awareness, one in which we behold with child-like eyes the miraculous intervention of God in our “ordinary” lives. It means seeing Jesus in a manger, realizing God appeared smack dab in the middle of our veiled, struggling lives, giving us Light that penetrates into the deepest crevices of our shadowed souls.
And what about how we celebrate Christmas? Many of the popular, old traditions are great, such as a family dinner or gift exchange around the tree, but I also love it when God inspires a revolution, when we set tradition aside and do something radically different — or add a novel twist to an existing tradition.
Here are a couple of examples —
1. A pajama party! One of my relatives does this for her immediate family every year! I can just imagine all the tensions of the world melting away at the door when everybody arrives! And I love that she dared to be so creative and different!
2. Invite your dinner guests to share something they’ve learned in the past year that’s been transformative — a challenge they’ve worked through, a friend who’s helped them out of a jam, someone whose example has motivated them to live better, etc. Send them the invitation far enough in advance to give them the opportunity to adequately think about it, and to deal with any shyness that might prevent them from sharing, or to opt out if they wish.
3. Spend an evening by yourself or with a few loved ones: candlelight, quiet — a chance to pour your heart out to God and share the true wonder and awe of the season with each other.
Thought for the Day: May we follow God’s guidance, wherever it takes us, in how we celebrate Christmas this year.
Thought for the day:
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.