(originally written, advent season 2009)
Christmas Uninterrupted…
My holiday season has been very busy. Yes, I have had a lot of activities with not much time for celebration. I look at the advent season as a way to bring my heart into focus and I haven’t had much time to do that. But, my self-inflicted busy schedule has come to a halt – my calendar is clear until we head to Michigan to celebrate with my family. Well, sort of clear…
As I sit and look at my beautiful tree and sip my cup of hot coffee I have a few minutes to reflect. Thinking back on Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, the shepherds were just doing their job and the angels interrupted in a glorious chorus. It made me wonder what would happen in my life. What would happen if God would interrupt my regularly scheduled Christmas events?
What if when I looked at a Christmas tree, I didn’t see the presents gathered under the tree. Rather I saw it as a symbol : Jesus Christ, the tree of everlasting life. What if as I gave and received gifts I could be reminded that this is just a small re-enactment of the true gift that was given in Jesus Christ? And what if Christmas could become a true celebration of His Birthday, instead of a mad dash of selfishness?
I’ve been praying this prayer: Jesus, please interrupt my Christmas. That’s it. Simple. And he has been, in small ways; In a Christmas song on the radio, or a small meaningful gift – at a Christmas program or recital. It is happening. As I sing the words to a favorite carol, He presses the meaning into my heart so that it’s meaning lingers all day long. Particular words to familiar Scripture passages from the Advent season seem new and fresh – I’ll never read them in the same way again. His Spirit is truly interrupting my Christmas and it’s the most wonderful experience. It has brought joy into the middle of my holiday season.
It seems that His work in my heart will continue – it is a forever event. As I view Christ’s birth in this new way, I see Christmas as a celebration of life – His coming to earth, His death on the cross and His resurrection, bringing everlasting life. Maybe His work in my heart is not to interrupt my Christmas, but rather my whole life, all year long.
I pray that as Jesus becomes more and more real in my heart, the work He is doing will truly go on and on – Christmas uninterrupted.
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