Firstly, a blessed Christmas to all. At the end of another globally confining year shaded by uncertainty and the fear of what is unknown may the hope of Christmas fill your hearts.
I’ve been trying to find a clear focus to write about but I keep coming back to children and joy. Let’s face it – every child is an infinite blessing – but this child – Jesus -is celebrated today because of Easter. As such the shadow of the cross appears simultaneously with the glory of the star of hope.
Jesus for me is the most powerful human to ever walk the earth. Just look at the impact he has had! We have Christmas because he was born (well really we have Christmas because he died). He was powerful in his humility. He taught us that humility is more powerful than giving commands. So often we desire and cling to authority but Jesus was the most innately powerful but embraced humility. What an un-Christian mess we are making: we even learn how to gain power today, we take courses on how to lead etc. so clearly we seek it, which is very un-Jesus-like, because we either want power or to be with powerful people. Power corrupts. For some reason tonight I keep thinking of the Scripture where Jesus says to the disciples to let the children come to him. It fits with Christmas as children make the most sense of Christmas. As parents don’t we do so much extra for our children and stand down and let others take the credit? Even when they are teenagers (and adults)! A bit humble really – but the most powerful act. We want them to feel special and to believe in something beyond the grey reality of daily life. Just for a moment to have a tangible view of how they are loved beyond measure. How many presents are from parents and how many from Santa? Don’t we do this as adults let alone as parents? Don’t we look to make children feel joy at this time? All children. Inclusion. We are more giving at this time of year than any other. Christmas is when we are so inclusive that no one is outside our sphere of love. All are welcome to be housed within that fence – no-one is deliberately made to stand outside looking in. This is the ONE time of the year we are like this. We hold onto power by excluding – but Christmas is ALL about humility and inclusion. Why is this once a year?
I feel really clouded and lacking clarity but if I could say anything this Christmas it is:
Humility is more powerful than authority.
Children are everything.
Love powers us to be more than we ever thought we could be.
We are richer when we believe in more than the immediate reality, if that something brings hope and encourages us to treat our fellow humans with love and compassion.
Personally, I think there is much that brings joy and much to bring hope. Let us hold onto hope and love and try and recapture that joy that is so overpowering as a child that we run away from at every opportunity as an adult.
Let there be joy this year. Be blessed. Be humble. Be compassionate. Go with love.
The Female Theologian 