Christmas Every Day

I get nostalgic around the holidays. I think its the egg nog. Or maybe its the Charlie Brown specials?

My mind wanders back to childhood Christmases spent with people gone by.

My heart swells with appreciation for the people who share my life.

I re-remember–in nativity scenes, in Luke’s famous chapter two, in the sight of my 8 month old sleeping “in heavenly peace” in his crib–the vision a baby came to set in motion.

The serious reflections ricochet in, of course, amongst a lot of not-so-serious moments–somewhere between watching Avatar in 3-D and playing cut-throat board games  (this year’s top picks: Apples to Apples and Chinatown—the latter of which I recommend you play with your families, but not my family. The Raymond trading floor can be a bit intense for rookies).

My favorite gift, every year, is the oneness.

The people moved by commonality–celebrating, singing, eating, wishing others well in tandem. So many people collectively focusing on the common good.

And also, quirky adults randomly wear Santa hats.

Oh and people send Christmas card form letters updating you on their lives. Wait, you don’t actually like that last one? I know, I know. But let’s not tell them I’m the only one on their lists who actually reads them. Shhhh.

How can you NOT like Christmas?

This little bit of oneness goes back to the garden–to the initial gift of God’s presence, to the gift of companionship, to God’s instructions to build a family and flourish. Others were added to self…there was oneness between man and woman.

That same theme follows in the history of Israel of course. God will bless them, make their name great, bless all people–even the impoverished, the widows, the foreigners–through them. Others become part of the oneness.

The baby Jesus then? Sighhh. Our little mangers scenes don’t do him justice, man. He championed truth to shepherds and kings, called people with blood diseases “daughter”, asked the world to shift into reverse. To turn a cheek, walk two miles, give your coat off your back… and your shirt too.

To love your enemies.

To pray for those who persecute you.

To live in oneness. With God the father. And with others.

Abide in me…

Abide in my love…

That your joy may be full. (John 15)

The funny thing is as we live these things, the otherness–what makes people different, not like us, not on our side–becomes less noticeable. The oneness–what makes us all kindred, needing and wanting and fearing the same things–increases.

Men become our brothers,

Women become our sisters.

Humanity our family.

Its Christmas every day.