“I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

Charles Dickens wrote these words in his famous story, A Christmas Carol. first published in London in December 1843. The first edition sold out by Christmas eve. The story captured the imagination of the British public at a time they were exploring and reevaluating past Christmas traditions and it led to a revival of the Christmas holiday. It also inspired the concept of family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, and a festive generosity of spirit.

Listen to the episode below, or continue on to read the transcript.

Episode Transcript:

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas ….” These are words of a Christmas Song that we might echo now, for, with just a few weeks to go, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Christmas decorations are on sale, and we are bombarded daily with messages that now is the time to buy gifts to place beneath the Christmas Tree. Yet how are we to best prepare for Christmas?

That’s what the lead-up to Christmas is for. It is known as Advent – the 4 weeks that prepare us for Christmas, for the Birth of Jesus. It is a time of renewal, for celebrating the seasonal reminder of the presence of God with us.

There are moments in nature you just know God wants you to witness. For me, one such occasion was a truly magnificent sunrise. Layers of cloud, in colours of gold, orange, purple and red. A spectacular start to my day! How can you put into words the beauty of the moment — the colours, the spectacle that is evidence of the Master Artist at work? No words do it justice. I grabbed a camera, flicked the on switch and the words “Warning – Battery depleted” came onto screen. Plan B? – my smart phone! Thankfully I captured several shots of the scene before the dawning sun moved past its beautiful start. Later, it occurred to me that camera message — “Warning – Battery depleted” – could well have applied to me. Maybe God saw my batteries being depleted and wanted me to witness his glory and warn me to take some time out to recharge my batteries.

Often, in the busyness, the hustle and bustle of our days it is so easy to run yourself into the ground. The word “stress” has become synonymous with our work and family lives. Too frequently we hear of people who struggle to handle the pressures of daily life. We long for a return to a “simpler” way of life but don’t seem to know exactly what it means or how to attain it. Advent is a time in which we are invited to withdraw and make time for prayer and reflection. It is a wonderful, God-given opportunity to discover the gift of gratitude, to express our thanks to the Creator for all the blessings we have in our lives, the big and the small. It’s also a time to look back to review our lives this past year, to examine the choices we made and consider how we might respond more positively to loved ones, friends, others.

This is the magic of Christmas: it performs a deeply important social function for us. It makes us feel like we are part of a collective, whether that be with relatives or chosen family. And, as social beings, this is one of our fundamental human needs.

The blessed Feast of Christmas was established over 2000 years ago to honour and glorify the birth of the most important Man who ever lived. “The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” [John 1:14]

Our loving God gave us the greatest gift possible: his own Son, a saviour and the promise of eternal life. The child Jesus would grow to give us as a way of life and a pathway to God. He is the reason for the season, and we should never lose sight of why we celebrate. Even the name Christmas emanates from Christ.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in the hunt for gifts and the promise of letting loose and partying during this time of year. So, it is important to remember that Christmas is most enjoyable when it is designed to foster togetherness and the sharing and reaffirming of the positive values that bind us together. The material stuff is quite incidental to these important social needs.

As we prepare to celebrate this Christmas, take time out, feel the love, savour it, and be nourished. Remember to stop to think about what God wants from you during Christmas – love, togetherness, and rejoicing. Slow down and take in what is around you.  Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … come Lord Jesus, come!

Look for the Silver Lining.

This is Terry Lees

[Music: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé]