Christmas Reflection

Some thoughts as the year passes and Christmas looms

1. 25^th. This year is so good – a Sunday Christmas… almost a whole week between last Sunday and Christmas Eve – so good for ministers/pastors! And, no meetings! Glory to God in the Highest!  Could we look to Sunday-ising Christmas?
2. Summer heat. Some emperor decreed that we should celebrate the birth of Jesus on 25 December but he failed to take into account the implications for people from the other hemisphere. Silly man!  Actually, I don’t even think he knew there was another hemisphere!
   I quite like the lights and the wrapped up warm idea of a winter Christmas but can’t be bothered going to the other hemisphere to experience it and missing out on summer here!  I also think that some separation of Christmas from summer holidays and school starting would be more helpful for families struggling to pay all the bills. If it wasn’t for strawberries and raspberries I would advocate for a June Christmas celebration in NZ.
   Lynne Barb has offered some thoughtful things about a southern hemisphere Christmas here: http://www.lynnebaab.com/blog/some-christmas-thoughts-from-the-souther
3. Timing. I feel like I have had the best year of my life – truly, I have had a lot of fun and inspiration – new friendships, writing, poems, tramping, an Australian adventure, my band getting together after 34 years, big exciting developments in our church life, and my daughter Hana getting engaged to our dear friend Will. But I got the timing wrong. I conked out two weeks ago and now I am limping to Christmas.  I have no complaints though – being in a team ministry has made it possible to get through a lot of things, but I’m done.  I hope the stuff for Christmas passes muster for I am drawing very deeply from the well!
   4.  Rest.  Anne and I have holidays starting mid-January, so we are holding the fort until then.  Fortunately, it is usually a slow patch, and there are no meetings scheduled (I wonder what it will be like to have a whole string of evenings off!).  We need the rest, and it looks like it will come to us.  May it also come to you and your loved ones.  Maybe that is the best thing about a summer Christmas, we work it hard until Christmas Day and then the NZ world stops, takes a breath and kicks off its shoes.  So…
   May the barbeque not run out of gas.
   May the car not break down or the tent rip.
   May the phone not ring with sad tidings.
   May you find beautiful spaces to re-create and re-imagine in.
   May the company you keep be light and friendly.
   May the earth not shake, the seas not roar, nor your skin burn.
   May your jandaled feet not blister or crack.

May the cool air in the evenings refresh you.

May the challenges of next year come slowly.

And may the God who graces us in Jesus Christ, so grace you that your cup overflows!