Christ in Christmas

[Rant alert: doing a bit of a rave. Not a cute reminiscence.]

The Facebook post was a graphic suggesting 'Put Christ in Christmas' or some such with a picture of Father Christmas. I probably offended a few FB friends by suggesting I thought this this was a joke, someone being funny with the idea that Christ in Christmas was aptly illustrated by the jolly gentleman in red.
So it set me pondering. Is there any Christmas at all without Christ. 'Jesus is the reason for the season' and all that stuff.
Some years back there was a hue and cry because there was no Nativity scene in the John Martin's Christmas Pageant. (I used to think that one was THE Pageant till I moved to the country and discovered there were lots of other Christmas pageants. Same goes for THE Show. But I digress.)  I thought it was fine to leave the Christmas Pageant to Father Christmas and snow people and clowns and stuff without tacking on the Nativity scene. Because that's how it seems. Let's just put Christ in Christmas, added to all the other stuff.  Sort of a bob each way.
Likewise there is a song we sometimes sing in church that has the line (addressed to the  Holy One) "I'm so glad you're in my life." It always makes me think of faith in Christ as just one part of life along with family and work and hobbies and sport. Whereas Christ IS my life, the source of all I am and ever hope to be. I sort of mutter that song and sing "I'm so glad your ARE my life."
So thinking about Christmas? What's it all about? Something to be endured or dreaded as seems to be the case for so many?Something for the children, as some will assert "Christmas is for the kids really" or something that should have Christ in it - along with all the other stuff?

Another song reminds me

        Christmas isn’t Christmas
        Till it happens in your heart.
        Somewhere deep inside you
        Is where Christmas really starts.
        So give your heart to Jesus,
        You’ll discover when you do
        That it’s Christmas,   
        Really Christmas for you.

Christ in Christmas? Christ at the very centre of life all year round?
May you be blessed this Christmas with the very presence of the one who came to be with us once and for ever....

PS Something to ponder

Beetroot comes in *cans doesn't it?

When I was a child Friday afternoon meant two things for Mum. She would get the bones and split peas bubbling in the pot ready for the weekend soup. Every weekend there was soup. And she would cook the beetroot. There was an old pitted saucepan just for the task - coloured from many years of use. Sometimes Dad grew the beetroot and other times it came from the greengrocer  or the market. It would boil away with a slightly earthy smell and when it had cooled the fun began.
Now I admit I am somewhat squeamish about things like mud pies and play dough and generally getting my hands dirty but I loved dealing with the beetroot. First the top and tail were cut off and discarded. Then if the cooking was just right the skins would slide off. Sometimes this would involve a beetroot popping out of its skin and onto the floor - a bit like whole beets from the salad bar at the pub.
Then there would be slicing and packing away ready to be used for Sunday lunch. When we ate we wore our pinnies over our Sunday dresses so we would still be neat and tidy to go to Sunday school int he afternoon. No beetroot stains, please.
I loved the taste of warm fresh beetroot even if it was a bit stringy sometimes as the season ended. For some years when we lived in Laura we grew our own beetroot and I preserved it in jars where it sat on the shell along with the apricots and peaches looking gorgeous.
Over the last few years there has been a return to being able to buy fresh beetroot and it appears grated in salad or made into dip with horseradish.
This morning our neighbour gave us some beetroot from his garden. I thought of my Mum a s I got out an old pot and began the process. I will be thinking of her for some time as my hands are now stained with  the colour of the juice. Yes beetroot comes in cans, but oh, the memories.....

* Actually beetroot used to come in tins, not cans.

The Ripple Effect

I went swimming today. No big deal. Lake Bonney looked amazing after some tempestuous weather with many windy days and a terrific storm last week. Would the hail stones act like ice cubes and cool the water down? I waited for a few days before putting my toe in the water - literally.

Hail in our garden 11.11.16

As I stood in awe watching the calm water and the reflections and to be honest wondering if it wasn't too cold, there was suddenly a wash of water across the lake. Was there a monster? Of course not. There must be a boat out there somewhere. I couldn't see it but later as I swam, several times the waves came rippling along. Not huge but noticeable. The effect was there.

I thought about that. (Swimming often puts me into a meditative state.) Maybe it's true what the song says about peace beginning with me. 'Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.' Maybe we can make a difference in our world, one smile at. Maybe we can make ripples just like that boat. Maybe it won't make a huge difference but together it could make all the difference in the world. If we smile at a stranger, forgive an annoying habit, leave the dollar in the Aldi trolley...