Month: December 2021

Christmas Eve. The day before the birth of Christ. This is the part of the Christmas Story where we have Mary and Joseph coming to the end of their long journey and finally arriving in Bethlehem. It’s not hard to imagine that they are tired, weary, exhausted, homesick for family left behind, and perhaps hungry and thirsty as well. Mary, too, is probably aware that the time for the birth of the child is drawing near. As new parents-to-be they are both probably nervous, anxious, scared, excited, and filled with anticipation. But, in the midst of the turmoil of all those emotions, they also have the promise that God is there with them. In fact, as Mary carries the Son of God in her womb she experiences the fulfillment of that promise in a most unique way.

We too, are coming to the end of our journey. This four week journey of Advent which for us has been a time of waiting and preparation. We too, have our own turmoil of emotions within us. We are tired, weary, exhausted. Perhaps partly from shopping, wrapping, and cooking. But, many of us are also burdened by worries, and troubles of life. Many too, are homesick for family. Family that is unable to travel and gather together. Others are facing a first holiday after the death of a loved one. We are also excited, anxious, nervous, and filled with anticipation as we prepare to once again welcome the Christ Child into our hearts and ponder the mystery of what that means. The good news is that within the midst of our own turmoil of emotions, we too share in that promise that God is here with us. Though our experience is not like Mary’s, it is no less real.

Tomorrow, Mary will cradle and hold the Son of God in her arms. Today, and every day, may you let the Son of God cradle and hold you in his arms.

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Several years back, due to various scheduling conflicts my family found it difficult to plan a good and proper Christmas get-together. We were all available on Christmas Day, but neither group had the time to make the drive to the other’s location. Thus, that is how I, my mom, my dad, my sister, and my sister-in-law found ourselves celebrating Christmas at a truck stop near the border of Virginia and North Carolina. That was the half-way point between all our various households.

This was one of the nice, full-service truck stops that offered quite a few amenities for over the road truckers. One of those amenities was a restaurant with a buffet dinner. Since all the other food places in that vicinity were closed for the holiday, that was basically our one and only option. Although, the food, as we came to discover, was actually tasty and appetizing.

After enjoying a meal and spending time together talking and catching up, we moved on out to the parking lot. Standing at the rear of our vehicles with the back doors lifted, we exchanged gifts with each other.

No, this is not the part of the story where I reveal something happened that was so awe-inspiring beautiful that I can now claim that this turned out to be the best Christmas of my life. Because, the truth is that it was not the best Christmas I ever had. I can name many that would top the list compared to that one. Yet, it also was not the worst Christmas possible that someone could experience. I can still look back on that year and know that even though it was a less desirable day than the one we all wanted, it was still a day of being blessed. I had food. I had time with family. I even got some presents. And even there, in a truck stop parking lot, I felt the presence of Immanuel, God with us.

This time of year people work hard to hold on to their family traditions. There is nothing inherently wrong with that attitude. In fact, traditions help promote stability, cohesiveness, and the strengthening of shared memories. The danger lies in the fact that some individuals hold such a grip on the tradition that any wrinkle in the plans or speed bump along the way throws them for such a loop that they find themselves unable to see or acknowledge the small blessings that still await in the here and now, and may be hiding within that wrinkle, speed bump, or setback.

Blessings can be found in the most unexpected places. Like, say for example, a baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem. He did not look anything like the Messiah the people of the time were expecting. Yet, this little child forever changed the world.

Where ever you find yourself this coming Christmas Day, whether it be a beautifully adorned family home, working, or even in the middle of a truck stop parking lot, I pray that you will find yourself blessed and feel the presence of Immanuel.

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