Advent Readings From Outside The Box: Part 4

December 22

Christmas is a time of year for generosity and giving to charity.  Recently I have seen suggestions that we not give to a certain large charity because of their political stance.  I certainly disagreed with the political stance but I wonder should such a thing prevent me from contributing to a charity that does an excellent job of feeding and clothing people?  I read another article about the ungrateful and rude behavior of some recipients of food stamps.  I am fairly certain that not all rude people are poor so why hold the poor to different standards?  It seems clear to me that there are strings attached to our giving.  I have found it in myself when I have helped someone out and then immediately started judging their actions.  It is difficult not to do so.  We like to see our giving put to good use.  We don’t want to be taken advantage of.  But this type of giving has nothing to do with Christmas.    God didn’t show God’s love for us by becoming human because we deserved it.  God doesn’t take that love away when we are rude or make bad decisions.  God’s love is freely and generously given.  

December 23

Brace yourself, another football analogy coming and it references...wait for it....Tebow!  I know everyone is excited because we haven’t heard enough about this guy!  (the previous sentence is so heavy with sarcasm I could barely push the keys to type it).  I understand the excitement about Tebow.  It is soooo refreshing to have a football player in the news because he is praying rather than getting arrested.  He is a well spoken man.  Here are my two cents though: 1) whether he prays on the field or not says a lot less about his faith than his actions off the field particularly in relation to the tons of money he is making  2) last I checked I could pray to God without kneeling so clearly this is done intentionally to call attention to his prayer.  Is this drawing attention to God or to a certain football player? (Although it is possible he is kneeling so he can pray without getting caught off guard by another player’s enthusiastic celebration.  “Dear Lord, thank you....Ahhhhh dog pile!” Crunch!)  This last point, (minus the dog pile) is where it connects with Christmas for me.  Many folks say, “Remember the reason for the season.”  Clearly this is not done to remind themselves.  If they were reminding themselves we wouldn’t be hearing it or reading it.  So, does this glorify God or does this say “you all better remember the reason for the season like I obviously am since I am saying these words, aren’t I good?”  Would it not be better to live the reason for the season by giving generously and loving abundantly? 

December 24

Christmas Eve!  Ohhhh, the anticipation!  I can hardly stand it.  I won’t be able to sleep tonight because I am so excited.  What am I excited about?  Presents!  But the mightily cool thing about Christmas is:  I am not excited about the presents I will be getting but rather about those I will be giving.  We fret and worry about the materialism of Christmas but somehow as we grow it does become about what we give rather than what we get.  In this self-centered world that is no small thing.  Sure we go overboard.  I confess I did.  Sometimes we give out of obligation rather than out of joy.  There is definite room for improvement.  Yet a day of getting excited about what you give is not a bad way to celebrate Christmas!  My children, like most children, are probably more excited about what they get but they did spend a lot of time making special, hand-drawn presents for others.  And with careful guidance (like me crabbing at one of them in the middle of the store to “think about somebody besides yourself!”) and time and watching good role models they will discover the joy of giving.  I have great hope, with the way God is moving in this world, that our children may even do a much better job than we have of carrying that spirit over into the rest of their lives.  A hope-filled and meaningful Christmas to you all!

December 25

The day is here and as I reflect upon that child in the manger,
                                             God become human to live and die for us, 
                                                                                    our hope for the future, 
                                                                                                              our heart, 
                                                                                                                       our life, 
                                                                                                                           I am struck speechless.  


Let us dwell in quiet awe in this moment of that birthing cry, the light of hope that breaks the darkness.