Waiting in Anticipation

The Magi following the star.

The Christmas season can mean many things to different people, young and old. Maybe it represents family, gifts, traditions of hiking out to find the perfect (or imperfect) Christmas tree to decorate. It can also mean a very busy season, year end for businesses, too many meals to prepare for and attend, bills, missing loved ones passed, and obligations.

Then there's 2015, where many people have been anticipating some other than Christmas:

Anyone else willing to admit that Star Wars has been more the thing to talk about than Christmas? I'll admit it. I saw it on Sunday. I wasn't dressed as one of the characters but when the first title popped up on the screen with the score that I learned on the piano as a child...I had an ENORMOUS grin on my face.

Last week, in our last general staff meeting before Christmas break, we read the Christmas story from Luke. We talked a bit about it and Taylor, our Program Director made a very profound point: What if everyone anticipated Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth like we have been for the Star Wars movie? Think of the posting, tweeting, instagramming, announcing, purchasing tickets months and months in advance, dressing up as, theme partying, and fellowshipping that has gone on over a fictional movie! Can you imagine if everyone you knew did that for Jesus' birth?

What have we (me? you?) done in anticipation of the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? Have we become like the people in Jeruselem and the religious leaders who knew the place and time of His birth and yet - did nothing. I have to wonder...did they become complacent? Did they lose hope? Even John the Baptist hesitantly asked the Lord, "Are you the Coming One? Or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3).

If only people had known what had been given to them.

If only people now could know what has been given to the world. Would we not then turn to anticipate and celebrate this season for what it is? God sending his only son to save a world without hope (John 3:16). So as we settle into our family dinners, celebrations, and even those planned events (like watching Star Wars) take a moment to redirect all that anticipation and expectation to Jesus. Put yourself in the mindset of the Magi who followed the star in anticipation to find the rumoured baby King or when the Shepherds saw the multitude of angels praising the birth of the newborn King (Luke 2:8-14).

Jesus is the reason we anticipate and celebrate Christmas. Remember to share with your friends and family the love of Christ - who just might be in a place where they need to know about Jesus and why he came to earth.

Merry Christmas from your Camp Evergreen family!

Jogee