Theme of the Week: Uniqueness of Christmas
Bible Verse: “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:17-20
I grew up on an Island.
Not an island with sandy shores or palm trees, but one with a rugged coastline and barren trees. That’s is why it’s known as “the rock”.
Upon graduating from University I moved away from Newfoundland to the Toronto area of Ontario. It was a big adjustment to say the least.
I still remember one of my first trips back home where I brought a friend who had never been on a plane before.
I still remember him looking out the window and being amazed as we landed on the runway that seemed to be in the middle of a marsh. We got our rental car and began our drive to my home town a few hours away.
As we drove, my friend’s gaze was fixed out the passenger window as he repeated “wow!”, “that’s amazing”, “you lived here?!”.
This moment struck me as profound. What was new to him was amazing and what was familiar to me was not even worth mentioning.
I will never forget that drive, as I learned to appreciate the beauty and wonder of a place that had become a little too familiar to me. Familiarity robbed me of astonishment.
How true is this of the Christmas season. Has it become a little too routine, or familiar? Have we lost the wonder and awe of this holiday? Has the good news of Christmas lost it’s goodness?
Like a tourist in a new location, may we rediscover the wonder and beauty of the Christmas season. May we refuse the “been there, done that” attitude, and become like the shepherds and wiseman who were struck with amazement.
Poet Mary Oliver once wrote a small but profound poem. It went like this:
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
This Christmas, may we be people who pay attention, become astonished and tell others.
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