Christmas has come and gone. Christmas 2021 is in the history books. This year, our family assembled a day early to enjoy sweet conversation, exchange gifts, and celebrate Mom’s enchiladas. Soon the decorations will be stored for another year and the house will return to normal. The Christmas mantel décor will be replaced with the Valentine’s mantel décor.
One of the things I like about the Christmas season is reading and studying about how various writers and thinkers have approached the Christmas season. (Perhaps this reflects the “preacher” in me.) One would think that after 2000+ years, all that can be said would have been said. But not so! Each year, I enjoy finding new ideas and thoughts.
If you are into introspection as I am (perhaps a characteristic of aging), here is an interesting thought to ponder. “What if Jesus had not been born?” Make a list. What things would not exist? What parts of your life would go away? What organizations you support or belong to would disappear? What aspects of your life would not matter? What if Jesus had not been born?
What an unimaginably sad thought! Let us live every day knowing that he did come to earth, knowing that God has penetrated the human dilemma in a unique way, hearing God’s declaration that history is linear and not circular. In Christ, God has made our rescue possible. We live because he lived and because he lives.