Christmas and Incarnation

Our Advent Blocks

The big day is almost here and we can’t slow down the Advent clock.  How’s that checklist coming along?

• Lights strung (yes)
• Nativity displayed (yes)
• Baking complete (almost)
• Presents wrapped (no!)
• Menu planned (yes)
• Food and ingredients bought (yes)
• Christmas Music playing (yes)
• Cards sent (yes)
• Gingerbread houses made (yes)

Hmmm what would happen if I answered “no” to every item on my list?  What if I don’t do anything on my list?  Will Christmas still come?  Imagine December 25th with no gifts, no lights, no delectable sweets, no stockings, no music, no pageants... would it still be Christmas?

It all depends on what we define as “Christmas”.  I think that most Christians would agree that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th, but over the years we have tacked on many traditions to commemorate this sacred event - cards, candies, trees, lights, presents, pageants, and a chubby man in a red suit (wait, where did he come from?).

It seems as though there are two separate celebrations going on; one where materialism and sentimentalism greatly influence the hustle and bustle of this time of year, and the other is an attempt to recognize Jesus as Mary's miraculous child.  Corey and I have tried to bridge the gap of this dichotomy we call "Christmas", but every year, after a thoughtful evaluation we have found the conundrum of Christmas to be unresolved.  How do we make Christmas meaningful and communicate to people that we are engaging in something different, set a part, holy?

We have come to the realization that "Christmas" can be whatever people in our secular society deem it to be, but in an effort to secure this high feast day, this remembrance of God becoming a helpless baby so that we who are slaves to sin can be set free to serve Him, we have decided to call the 25th Incarnation Day.  You don’t need cards, candies, presents, lights and trees to celebrate the Incarnation of The Son of God.  What you do need is time to reflect on this supernatural truth, time to read, think, sing, and share with your children, your spouse, and loved ones. 

I am not advocating that Christians promptly collect all their Christmas doo-dads and throw them in the dumpster, however we should be careful that Christmas does not keep us from reveling in The Incarnation.  By drinking deeply of Christ’s condescension and the Father’s love there should be an outpouring of joy and gratitude, and The Spirit may move you to give gifts, make tasty treats to share, string up colorful lights, decorate an evergreen, sing carols, or ring a bell at a grocery store.  None of these things are bad, and none of them are necessary.

What I am advocating is that we do what we do all unto the glory of God, the Most High.  Choose your Christmas traditions and activities wisely, relish the Incarnation, and enjoy! 

                          

Instead of just wishing you a Merry Christmas, I wish you an Incarnation Celebration brimming with hope, reverence, and laughter.

Just a Little Bit of Christmas

The Thanksgiving dishes have been washed, dried, and put away or just tossed in the trash and the sound of the Advent calendar clock is tick, tick, stocking, oops I mean tocking!  I don't know when it started, but I get stressed out this time of year.  I can even remember not sleeping for the whole Advent season one year.  I think I was pregnant but I can't remember with whom!

What presents shall we buy?  Will we get a tree this year?  Will I actually bake for the neighbors this year?  How many lights will I put up outside?  How about that family photo?  EEEkkk!

When we came back from our Thanksgiving trip from the desert I had Isaac take down all two of our Christmas decor boxes from the attic in the garage.  I did get rid of a lot of "stuff" before we moved.  Last Christmas I purged the non-essentials before I put the boxes back in the garage.  When I opened the boxes I felt overwhelmed.  What am I going to do with all of this?

You see, at our last home I had a set place for everything, but now there are not set places, no traditions.  So I did what any rational woman would do, I got out even more boxes.  I brought in the rest of the framed art and photographs and decided that they should be hung first and then I could handle the Christmas bric-a-brac.

It took about a week of trial and error and some major grumpiness on my part, but pictures did get hung.  I managed to hang most of them myself, even though Corey is the official picture hanger.  He is just so good at it, and I really don't like to take the time to do it right.  But I decided to grow up, and do it myself and, yes, I did pound some nails in the wrong places but that is O.K. because Corey filled them :)

Front door entry way

It was actually nice to see all our "wall art" with fresh eyes and to make different combinations with objects from our old house and new things that we have picked up or made since living here.  The wooden board above the entry way shelf was salvaged by me from one of Corey's demolition projects on our property.  I hot-glued different varieties of pine cones that the kids found or that I picked up on my walks with Willa.  The holes in the wood board where already there so it seemed appropriate that it should be hung somewhere.

pine cone plaque

As you can see, I did finally put up some Christmas trappings.  I decided not to find a place for everything, so I asked Corey and the kids what they really wanted to have up.  Asa mentioned the "three men with beards star" that Greta gave me years and years ago.  He wanted to make sure it had a place.  There was also some major interest about the Advent blocks so the kids and I settled on placing them on top of the piano.  Eleanor mentioned the nativity set and we decided to arrange baby Jesus and his entourage on the book shelf in the dining room.  

Last but not least we settled on a place for the stockings.  They are actually quite special.  I started making them about 14 years ago.  I made the first three for Corey, Esther, and I.  I made up a pattern, chose and cut out different colors of felt and ribbons, and sewed each stocking together.  Then I decided on a theme for each one except Corey's.  He chose the Star of Bethlehem.  I have enjoyed coming up with a new stocking for each new member of our family.  When I was making Asa's stocking I new it would be the last, but it also meant that we as a family were entering a new stage and that was exciting.                    

Hospitality

This is an excellent time of year to consider hospitality.  In fact, I was inspired to write this post because of  this quote by Henri Nouwen which I read in Jon Zens' book, Jesus is Family His Life Together:

Hospitality is "primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.  Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place...we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations...Just as we cannot force a plant to grow, but can take the weeds and  stones which prevent its development, so we cannot force anyone to such a personal and intimate change of heart, but we can offer the space where such a change can take place."

I just love love the idea of creating a space where people can "disarm" and "lay aside their occupations and preoccupations".  The Incarnation of Christ is the most wonderful miracle.  God the Son was changed into a man so that we sinners can be changed into the image of The Son, and we can in turn provide a haven where others might be changed as we are being changed ourselves.

Some people excel at inviting family, friends, and strangers into their homes to share the good things that they have been blessed with, and some of us really have to work at it.  Corey and I laugh as we recall a few awkward, clunky attempts at hospitality towards people that we did not really know.  If you are a Christian you are not "off the hook" because your house is small or you don't know how to cook.  The pursuit of hospitality is like anything worth striving for, it gets better with more and more practice.

In fact, hospitality is essential to the growth of God's people.  To be changed, to become more and more like Christ, isn't that what we Christians truly want for ourselves and others?  The Holy Spirit can use our meager endeavors at clearing weeds and stones to change people - family, friends, and even strangers.