The Christmas Season

I love this Christmas Season! Christmas music playing non-stop, decorating the Christmas tree, snow angels, baking cookies, the smells of Christmas spices in the air, joys of having family around, winter vacation, and of course, PRESENTS!! These joys can easily be annoyances to many.

Perhaps it is because we live in a materialistic 21^st century that seems to ever-lengthen the Christmas season (ie. grocery stores bringing out mincemeat pies in October). Or maybe it's because others don't like the pressure of buying gifts for family and friends. Either way we choose to view it, we have to face the music and know that this holiday is over commercialized. The media teaches kids that the only thing that matters is getting that next new shiny thing! That's the media, and we're human beings. We do know better. Take away Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus, and the elves. Put aside that Xbox game, and that little kid who wants the newest iPhone. Let go of the gift-giving, the parties, the charities, and a White Christmas. Let's even forget, for a moment, about our hopes for peace on Earth and good will toward all.

What's left, and what remains the theological and spiritual core of Christmas, is the Incarnation. It's the reality that God has taken on human flesh, been born as one of us, like us in all things except sin. We Christians believe that in Jesus Christ, the human and the divine are brought together, are simultaneous realities. The Bible teaches us it was part of God's plan and purpose that he should experience life as we experience it- being born as a child, living and growing as a human child, knowing all our wonder and fear and joy.

This is something we truly need to reflect on, keep in our mind and dwell with it in our hearts. That is the only way we can remain spiritually whole in times where the world tries to sway us of our true values. We know in our hearts the right thing to do. The question is... can we?