Today is 25 December, the day known around the world as Christmas. While millions gather with friends and family I am alone, partly by choice. Being in a foreign country without family, I chose to housesit rather than suffer the awkwardness of asking to spend Christmas with people not related. I wonder as I wander, as the old hymn goes, if this is not the easiest Christmas option there is. Gone are the family squabbles, the required niceties, the false gratitude for a thoughtless gift. Instead, I do what I want when I want and cater to only me. How utterly selfish.
Thinking over most of the places where I’ve recently laid my head I realize that I have been humbled to accept the warm hospitality of people in many different cities and countries. While it may be more blessed to give than receive it is definitely more humbling to receive. And then I reflect, in my selfish lonely Christmas, how He who came came in utter helplessness--a baby--putting Himself in the receiving position. He became a man--humans must recognize their utter inability to save themselves--so that He could save us. He communicated love in our language. He changed the game.
Love incarnated Himself at Christmas. He stripped bare all our selfishness and made the way that we could choose love. The only way we can, in fact. Once He transforms our hearts we begin to grow in not only desiring Him but desiring to love others, in spite of their uglinesses. I find, with such a heart, Christmas alone is actually not easy. Even for an introvert.
The streets of the big city are lined with people rushing in and out of shops. News reports of more racial violence and tensions between religions. The empty churches hear mouthed platitudes and universalist drivel when the answer is in the very Scriptures they mouth and the truth they pass quickly over. The only answer to Ferguson is Jesus. The only answer to family personality clashes is Jesus. The only answer to a lost and dying world is Jesus. Jesus who entered our mess and made a way to love. I’m overwhelmed this solitary Christmas by how radical, unequivocal and shattering that truth is, and I pray it continues to transform me and you.
Merry Christmas
