Preparation

Some things just happen from pots boiling over, to surprises (at least to the unsuspecting one), or accidents. The last one one can be fortuitous or not depending on the outcome. A good part of my life I thought a good preparation for Christmas was externals. The first needs were mainly a tree and stockings with a smattering of carols for atmosphere and a pageant at school. About my fifth year of teaching while December focus could still be Christmas and not Winter Holiday, I became aware of an Advent Wreath, lots of symbolism in a circle and the opportunity to strike matches and light candles and talk about prophets and mangers and shepherds and stars with some other options of one’s choice. Then the demographics of my class changed and we focused on our individual definitions of value words like Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. We wrote Holiday Memories and posted on lockers in the hall. The preparing offered by church was readings from Isaiah, Matthew, and Luke and a sermon each week to tie to the scripture. 

Little by little that list of original importance began to lessen. In my high school years, we went to the Espiscopal Christmas Eve Service where a robed choir processed down a center aisle singing, “O, Come All Ye Faithful.” Our church in Houston gave focus to Advent with commissioned banners and an Advent Book with twenty-five writings by various age church members. These pieces were a personal response to the theme for the week. Over several years, I came to depend that these would be spiritual comments that easily lead me to “a child is born ” attitude.

Whoa! The Discipleship Committee focused this year on Once Upon A Family, introduced as a messy family. Sunday notations and comments on hymns helped me feel the usual “warm and fuzzy,” close to God moments. Others were children’s drawings, sweet, of course, and recipes, and stories of what some family “always did.” Our family seemed too varied to belong: places to be stretched over 600 miles, people attending were those who were expected and those who appeared, and once friends from Saudi helped fold a special napkin design for a table set with silver and china. Our family is split this year: three here; four in another state. Since I am leaving Friday to fit with the four group, I read ahead December 25. Star shine and angel song came with this sentence: ”I hope you now know more about the family of God for you in this place.” I heard this message and came with them to the manger, joining a group that is my special family of God. If we don’t come, we can’t tell what we have found. May we join, rejoice, and go out to impress all with our story.

They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Luke 2: 16 – 18