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!

Running for fun...and service!

Early last week I was out doing some jogging on a beautiful fall day.  I thought back to the Gladiolus Days 5K run that I'd run in St. Charles in late August.  I’d started slowly that day and had WAY too much energy for the final ‘kick.’ I knew I could do better!  I wanted another chance to push myself harder, but I assumed that the 5K race season had ended. I felt bummed.

The next morning I received an e-mail from Sheila Mix asking me to sponsor her team in last Saturday’s Lupus Foundation run / walk. Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disorder that may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. It’s something that may flare up once and never show up again…or it may keep attacking the body. My mother died of lupus in 1979, with her body basically ‘rejecting’ her kidneys as if they were transplants. There is no known cure. Sheila and her family looked for support for their team of walkers and runners as they worked to raise money for lupus research.

In an instant, two things came together for me: the desire to run another 5K…and the desire to find a cure for lupus. Instead of donating to Sheila’s team, I decided to form my own! Ben and I signed up and had a GREAT time running.  I got off to a good start and held my own throughout the race!  Out of 42 people, Ben finished 4^th and I was 9^th!   Just as importantly, people signed on to sponsor our running, raising over $100 for lupus research.

I got to do something that I enjoy to raise money for what I care about. Pretty good combination!  I think that’s what’s called ‘using your gifts to serve God!’

No pain…no gain.  When I’m running, a little pain helps!  It shows that I’m pushing my body to grow stronger.   I’ve definitely felt pain in the past 6 months as I’ve gotten back into shape…but it’s been worth it.

No pain…no gain.  Does the same theory apply to a life of faith?  Not always.  God gives us all unique gifts and passions that can be used in God’s service.  Last weekend I took a passion (running) and used it to raise money for something I found very worthwhile.  Every week I take a love of public speaking and use it to preach.  I take an excitement for God’s work in the world and I use it to help African ministries get started.  These things bring energy and joy to my life…not pain! 

Life in God’s service need not be misery!  God has given you gifts, passions, and abilities that you can use in God’s service…to help people in need…to tell people about God’s love for them…to teach the faith…to be a leader.  Use them...and enjoy the results!