The Adventures of Christmas Esimerkki

December 20th

Kids are messy and embarrassing. We were at a Christmas program a few years ago and at one point the kids were singing, “O Holy Night.” At the time, my three-year-old was eating Pirate Booty, a crunchy snack which was good for keeping him content and quiet… until he ran out. Just as everyone was singing the climactic, “O Night Divine!” my kid began yelling, “I want more booty!” Yep, that happened. Did I mention I’m the pastor of this church?

The Savior coming to the manger did not mean we are free from danger. There’s tragedy and majesty all around the nativity scene. Anyone who knows what Herod did to all of the children in Bethlehem aged two and under knows that for many families there, it was not “Joy to the World, Peace on Earth.” It was tiny coffins and broken hearts.

Just because Jesus came down does not mean that your finances go up or your popularity goes up. Just because he came down doesn’t mean your health goes up or your IQ goes up. I’ve known too many Christians to think that is true. Just because heaven came down does not mean that earth becomes heaven.

Jesus wants to lock arms with us. He became like us so we could become like him. He wants us to bring peace, to bring joy. And yet, it's not automatic or easy. Like the Magi, we just might have to go out of our way to bring a little joy to a peasant family staying in Bethlehem.

God promised to free us from sin, but not suffering. God’s desire is for us to follow Jesus, to enter into the messiness of life. Joy to the world and peace on earth comes from our change in actions and attitudes.

My wife and I were at a popular store the week of Christmas. As we were waiting for a parking spot, a worker was pushing a row of carts with one of those electronic mobile vehicles. Somehow, the cart wrangler got away from him and slammed into the side of our mini-van, blowing the handle off the passenger door. My wife has no peripheral vision because of a degenerative condition so she didn’t see it coming. Let’s just say, the experience didn’t put her into the Christmas spirit. I think she shouted something like, “What is that cotton headed ninny muggins doing?”

In the spirit of Christmas we showed grace. We told the very frazzled young man that it was okay and that nothing says sorry like a gift card to Target. Kidding! We encouraged him, and told him several times that it was okay, accidents happen. Pray about how you too can show the Christmas spirit to the people God sends into your life today, even the “cotton headed ninny mugginses.”