Home for Christmas

The seasonal songs are once again filling the air waves. Some of them cause us to reflect on the past and remind us of the importance of “home.” The song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is one such song. Many will go “home” for Christmas, even if it is only in their dreams, for there is a yearning within the human heart to return to that place where we feel secure and loved. Nothing matches getting back with the people we love and who love us. Going home means being with people who love you despite your faults, who let you be who you are, who are always glad you’re there to share life with them. When one goes home there is usually good food, laughter, enjoyment of each other’s company, and sharing of joys as well as tears.

One of my favorite memories of this season is the family tradition of gathering at an aunt’s/uncle’s home for a family meal. While my family has diminished in size, I still, like many, want to go “home” to gather with family. Going “home” for the holidays is an essential part of celebrating Christmas, for “home” is where the heart is. It’s a place where loved ones gather, where our souls can connect with the souls of another. It’s a place where memories are formed, stories are told and new stories given birth. It’s a place where one can capture “Kodak moments” that last a lifetime. Home is where we can, and should, feel safe, cared for and even special. “Home is where the heart is.”

What if home no longer exists except in one’s memory or it is impossible to go to the place we call home? Many are separated by circumstances that prevent them from being with family and loved ones during the holidays. Can we make "home" out of where we are? Perhaps home is as much a state of well being and solace as it is a place.

If home is as much about attitude as it is about latitude, then we never need feel too far from home. That's good to know, especially during those times when we find our thoughts homeward bound. The challenge for many will be to make the place where you are a space and place of peace. Can you find comfort in your surroundings and warmth in fond memories or perhaps from the company of friends? If so, even if you're not at the place you live, or the place called home is no longer what it once was, you can be at home, even if it is only in your dreams.

Believe...

Macy's, a major department store with a log tradition of adding joy to Christmas, uses one stand-out word in their advertising this special season. The word is "Believe." For some, that one word answers life's most profound questions of faith, and captures the meaning and mystery of Christmas. It also may cause a person to reflect on the central message of faith that transforms lives. For others, the word simply raises more questions, beginning with one each of us must address in life's journey: What can I believe? The answer is not as simple as believing in Santa Claus, a character representing the spirit of giving. There are shortcomings to such beliefs as Santa is often entrusted with only hopes and expectations of receiving. While Santa may bring momentary happiness and delight to children, being Santa to others is more in line with the intended meaning of this season.

To make sense of the true meaning of Christmas, we must begin with God's story and what God has done on our behalf. That story has its roots in the Old Testament (deliverance) and culminates in the New Testament with "the greatest story ever told" (redemption).

So what do we need to believe to claim the true meaning and joy of Christmas?

~ Believe in the story. To do so helps interpret life as God intends it to be.

~Believe in the one who lived a more excellent way of self-giving sacrificial love. Jesus' teaching and lifestyle continue to challenge us to live love.

~Believe in God's promises. Emmanuel - a word of this season -- reminds us that "God is with us," providing what we need the most for the journey.

~ Believe in the true gifts of Christmas that are spiritual ones: Peace and love which produce hope and joy. Those who believe can share such gifts with others.

I believe that Christmas is not simply a day or a season, but anytime love is expressed. When we live love and share the spirit of giving, others will discover the “magic of Christmas.”
Believe!

Peace on earth...

“Peace on earth for all…” (Luke 2:14) That’s what Christmas offers! In a world with many conflicts, not only in personal lives, but in the corporate life of churches as well, it is helpful to realize that one of the messages of Christmas is peace, and the challenge presented by Jesus is that of being a peacemaker. When the spirit of Christmas dwells within, it addresses the discord and conflict that divides and offers a bridge to reconciliation made possible through love. One of Jesus’ greatest messages was this: “Blessed are the peacemakers…” To be a peacemaker is to become a gift to others.

Rev. Tim Farabaugh, a ministerial colleague, recently wrote a devotion that included this thought: “To bring peace and resolve conflicts, we must first seek God and ask God to guide us in finding a peaceful solution.” For some, peace will be the greatest gift they can receive this Christmas. Where and for whom do you need to be a peacemaker this holy season?