Time to get ready!

On Monday I made ‘the list.’  I’ve checked it twice…but it has nothing to do with naughtiness!  This is the cleaning list!  We’re hosting Shannon’s side of the family this year, and that means our house will hold 11 people, including two 1 ½ year olds and two pregnant women.  Our house was in pretty good shape…but not good enough for a couple busy little kids!  Every day I’ve gotten a few things off the list: cleaning showers, cleaning floors, washing towels, dusting, moving knick-knacks, baking Christmas cookies…  I don’t want to get rushed at the end.  When everyone shows up on Saturday I’ll be fully ready.  If I raced around like a maniac on Friday night I’d wear myself out and wouldn’t fully enjoy the Christmas weekend.   I’ve put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I’ll be ready.  I’m looking forward to spending time with people I enjoy.  I don’t want a messy house to get in the way of that!  It’s nearly time to welcome a houseful of people into my home.  Only a couple days to go.  

Last week at Peace I began a different list: things to get done before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services.  Every day I’ve gotten a few things off the list: sermons to write, songs to choose, orders of service to organize… I don’t want to get rushed at the end.  When everyone shows up on Saturday I’ll be fully ready.  If I run around like a maniac at the last minute I’ll wear myself out and won’t fully enjoy the worship services.  I’ve put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I’ll be ready.  I’m looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth with people I enjoy.  It’s nearly time to welcome a crowd of people into our new church home.  Only a couple days to go.  

Amid all the planning…all the organizing…and the preparing…on Saturday we’ll once again celebrate God coming to earth to live among us.  I’m rushing around getting ready for the celebration.  It’s time to add a few things to ‘the list:’ some quiet time in prayer…some time reading Scripture…singing Christmas carols with the youth.  Getting ready for Jesus simply involves nurturing the relationship that God desires for me.  It’s nearly time to welcome Jesus into our world…and our lives.  Only a couple days to go.

A Little Christmas Honesty

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet.



Oh Ho the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
and in case you didn't hear
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Xmas this year

These classic words clearly explain the expected Christmas mood.  This is a season for love, joy, and family.  It’s a time to be merry and excited about life.  It’s a time for warm, cozy feelings.  We expect our days to be merry and bright.

It can be hard to live up to those high expectations.   The truth for many people is that Christmas becomes a time of disappointment, anxiety, and depression.    

A number of years ago I found myself leading a Christmas service at a funeral home.   It wasn’t a time to talk about ‘a cup of cheer’!  For those who have lost loved ones, Christmas abounds in loneliness.  Memories of those who no longer gather around the Christmas tree bring tears to people’s eyes. 

Many families get together to celebrate Christmas.  Quite often these Christmas gatherings produce more anxiety and hurt feelings than ‘comfort and joy.’  People who avoid each other all year long suddenly sit together expecting everyone to be happy.  It doesn’t happen.  Old resentments bubble over (or simmer under the surface).  People wonder, “Why can’t I have a NORMAL family?”  Perhaps this family anxiety IS normal!!

Many people will spend Christmas alone, far from family and friends.  They will feel that ‘everyone is happy except me.’ 

Some couples will acutely feel the pain of infertility as they imagine presents for little ones under a tree.  “If only we had children to celebrate with.”

Some divorced families will experience the frustration of the battle over ‘who gets the kids on Christmas Eve.’

How do we learn to manage expectations?  We SO want Christmas to be perfect in every way.  We want happiness and joy at every turn.  Let’s be honest with ourselves: Christmas doesn’t always live up to the hype.

We live in a broken world.  We live in a world where relationships are strained, where death rips people away, where loneliness abounds.   We can’t just wish someone ‘Merry Christmas’ and expect all that pain to go away.

2000 years ago God chose to come into this broken world.  His parents had to leave home to travel to Bethlehem.  They couldn’t even find a decent place to spend the night.   The baby Jesus entered that anxiety to bring hope.

God lives among us even as we suffer.  As we focus on the Christ who came to live with us, we can look at the Christmas season with honesty.  Jesus did not come to have it be ‘perfect.’  Jesus came to live with us, wherever we might find ourselves.

This Christmas, feel free to lay before your newborn king your joys & sorrows, your excitement & pain, your contentment & loneliness. 

Welcome to the manger!  Unto us a child has been born!

Helping the Needy from an Arm's Length

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.  If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18

The red kettles of the Salvation Army have become a part of Christmas tradition here in America.   It seems like every store has a smiling bell ringer clanging away, encouraging people to generosity.

On Saturday Shannon and I had the chance to ring those bells at Wal-Mart in Rochester.  For an hour we chimed away, humming and ringing to the beat of all kinds of classics (we found that Jingle Bells worked best…but we could also jingle out the beat to the Minnesota Rouser!) 

People streamed past us on their way to their serious Christmas shopping.  They pushed carts piled with toys & goodies for young and old.  Despite all the talk of recession and tough times, people still came to Wal-Mart to shop.

As the hour jingled past, money continually poured into the kettle.  Parents taught their kids the importance of generosity, encouraging them to reach up and put money in the open hole.  People on their way out the door tossed in the change that the cashier had just given them.  Others went out of their way to fold larger bills and stuff them into the kettle.   

Generosity ran rampant.  While people came to Wal-Mart to buy presents for their families and loved ones, they didn’t forget those in need.  They gave money to feed the hungry and house the homeless.  As the bell clanged in my ear I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride.  I was part of something special.  Those dollars and coins make a difference in many people’s lives. Shannon and I helped encourage that. 

Salvation Army bell ringing is a wonderful thing, yet as I drove home something troubled me…I did not come in contact with the people I hoped to help.  The homeless and hungry remained nameless and faceless.  I had the freedom to hop in my car, do some good, get a little shopping done on the side, and drive home.    I dabbled in helping people in need … but did it from an arm’s length.

I feel that I am, by nature, a generous person.  I give money to Lutheran World Relief.  I support a congregation that supports places like the Salvation Army Dental Clinic, Rochester Women’s Shelter, and the Channel One food bank.   I take part in the Cardboard Box City where I experience what it’s like to sleep in the cold.  I try to make a difference in the world…but I live in a bubble.  I live my happy middle class life in my warm house with my warm clothes and good food.  I rarely have actual contact with the people in need.  I can help them without being inconvenienced.  I don’t have to feel uncomfortable with actual personal interaction with people who are struggling in life. 

Is that what it means ‘see a brother or a sister in need?’  Do I actually see them or do I know in theory that they exist and that something should be done to help? 

Does anyone else struggle with this?