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
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