Wonderful things happen at Christmas.
The dryness of the commercialization and materialism that permeates the season
cannot overcome the simple – and not so simple – wonderful acts that
sprout from the Spirit of Christ.
Wonderful things happen at Christmas.
The dryness of the commercialization and materialism that permeates the season
cannot overcome the simple – and not so simple – wonderful acts that
sprout from the Spirit of Christ.
I remember reading about the German and American troops that were fighting
at close range during World War I during the days leading to Christmas. On Christmas
Eve, one army filling its muddy trenches began singing Christmas carols. Their
enemies in their trenches heard the sounds and joined in the singing. Soon,
soldiers from both sides of the war left their protective digs and came to fellowship
with fellow Christians of opposing sides.
Two brothers were at emotional war, and when
Christmas came, the memories of their childhood Christmases caused them to
want to experience that family warmth and closeness again. One called the other,
and they both cried and left behind their bitterness. It was a time of reunion
and family love.
The children sat before their pile of presents, and in the midst of their joy,
one of the children kept thinking about a little boy in his class whom he knew
would have no gifts, no celebratory meal that Christmas day. He asked his parents
if he could take some of his gifts and food to the little boy’s house.
They offered to buy other gifts for the friend, but their son wanted to share
his. And he did.
Christmas.
There seems to be something about the Spirit of Christ that breaks out at every
opportunity. It is like an underground river that waits for a crack in the rock
or for someone seeking water to drill a hole, so the river can pour itself out
into parched and needy land. Christ wants to renew, restore, refresh, redeem.
He takes advantage of the slightest opportunity to make his offer.
At Christmas, everyone at least hears songs proclaiming Christ’s birth
and praising him and extolling his greatness. The greatest music ever composed
is about Christ Jesus, and much of this concerns his birth. Even if these songs
have to share play-time with “Jingle Bells,” they are heard. The masses
at least hear the Christmas story. More people
come to church gatherings, feeling drawn there by the recognition that at
rock bottom, Christmas is about celebrating Christ’s birth. It is Christmas.
For Southern Baptists, the generosity spurred by the Spirit of Christ translates
into what must be the most gigantic annual offering in the world – the
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions that raises annually
some $136 million. Think about that amount.
People who never think about giving to charity at any other time of year give
during Christmas. People who suffer in need all year long receive help at Christmas.
People tell other people, “I’m thinking about you” at Christmas.
They give gifts to one another at Christmas.
And why? Because those cracks in our rock-encased hearts let the Spirit of
Christ seep in and soften us and change us ever so slightly, ever so briefly.
Just imagine if we allowed the presence of Christ to permeate us all the time?
Sadly, it is likely for most that the Christmas season will end. New Year’s
will come. The Christmas carols stop. People go back to work to pay for their
Christmas generosity. More people will begin to chose other activities over
church gatherings.
But for those who still have cracks in their hearts, who have drilled holes
through the rock search for meaning … Christmas goes on.