The Advent/Christmas season is in many ways “the most wonderful time of the year”. We complain about the extra stress and busyness of the season but we love it all the same and probably wouldn’t want it any other way. The children among us keep us alive to wonder and mystery. Lights and music add a festive note virtually everywhere we go.
And the central messages of these days celebrates the coming of Light into the world and its continuing influence among us. We pray to make it to the other side of yet another Christmas a little more compassionate, a little more caring and a little more hopeful concerning what is yet to come, and a little more aware of our blessings even if this year’s holiday was not as abundant as those of the past.
Presbyterian poet Ann Weems invites us to make our way through the final days of Christmas in this way:
This Advent let’s go to Bethlehem
And see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.
In the midst of shopping sprees
Let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.
Through the tinsel
Let’s look for the gold of the Christmas Star.
In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos,
Let’s listen for the brush of angels’ wings.
This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem
And find our kneeling places.
A very Merry Christmas and happy and health New Year from all of us at UPC!
