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Christmas can be an island. A time to enjoy a brief moment after feverishly preparing for a day that comes and goes.
Getting ready can begin in November around Thanksgiving. For some early bird enthusiasts, it starts in October before Halloween, and just that fast it ends with a rush toward New Year’s parties and more celebrating.
There are so many traditions – things we go back to year after year. I am thinking… music, cookies, Christmas trees, decorating, family, friends, hopefully a little snow, gifts, the children, maybe grandchildren, time off work, church for some, prayer, calm, and well, maybe not calm.
It is the sights, sounds, smells, familiar activities that all together makes Christmas.
It’s Santa Clause, the elves, Rudolf, and the reindeer (who no longer make fun of him). There’s poor grandma who got run over by the reindeer. And my favorite – milk and cookies left for the old man near the fireplace.
There’s so much more… Bill Sellers collecting coats to help others, the Salvation Army bell ringers, and members of the Congregation Sons of Israel Synagogue giving of their time and talents preparing meals for the lonely and less fortunate.
And there is the annual barrage of letters to the newspaper about how Christmas is too commercial, how we have forgotten Jesus is the reason for the season, and how Xmax is not appropriate Christian jargon.
There is so much to do and think about.
Yet, there is something else that perhaps we don’t consider serious or often enough.
Remember the Christmas story? The one about Jesus?
A young woman and her betrothed without a lot of money, traveled a long distance because the government ordered them and many others like them to go back to where they came from to be counted in a census.
When this young couple arrived in Bethlehem, it was cold and all the rooms were full. There was no place to take shelter.
So this young couple took refuge in a dirty animal shed. Soon after, she went into labor. Maybe her partner had experience in delivering a baby, but likely not. It was not easy.
There was nothing sanitary here – just two young people, scared, and a dangerous situation for the pregnant girl, in labor, and about to give birth. There was no one to help, to give advice, to offer comfort, to cut the cord. There were only the two of them, cold, hungry, alone, and struggling to bring life into this world.
The girl gave birth and survived, as did the baby.
They then moved on to avoid the threat posed by the government.
So what do we really get out of the Christmas story?
We know the characters by name. They are Mary, Joseph, Jesus, angels, shepherds, and wise men. But what about your name and mine? Aren’t we as much a part of this Christmas miracle as the original players?
Sometimes we forget why Jesus was born, that he and his message are themselves miracles. Thus, we would be well served to look for and experience the birth in the circumstances of our own lives.
The words, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people” are meant for everyone.
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, former Shippensburg University Trustee, awarded numerous patents, as well as Founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for automated sourcing and managing of mail marketing, swag, packaging, and all things print. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.
