Suddenly Christmas Again

It is so predictable and yet, always a surprise, like waking up to the realization of new fallen snow in the mountains or the sunshine bursting forth in a moment of awakening to herald a new day. Always surprising is the Christmas season on the heels of the gloom and distortions of Halloween and the welcome of Harvest.

Jesus breaks forth onto the scene of human indifference with serendipitous pageantry, fully prepared and fully spontaneous in His coming to a world unaware of its need and too busy and boisterous to recognize its silent emptiness. Jesus comes and Christmas lights suddenly charge the night sky. Carols on cue resound in the halls of commerce. Wrappings and trappings surround the tastes and smells confirm our aching suspicion that yes, it is Christmas after all.

Then, someone will invariably ask, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Good grief! That’s the whole point. Have we ever been ready? Could we ever be? Why do they have to ask? It just aggravates the stress and the empty, lonely feeling that we are not and never shall be.

It’s not that we dislike Christmas. Quite the contrary. We love it. It represents so much of what we aspire to. It’s just that we never feel adequate, prepared, or even receptive enough to fully experience its wonder, joy, and childlike silliness. Or we feel that we have not measured up spiritually to appreciate the deep and eternal significance of the advent and coming of Christ. 

The world into which the Lord Jesus came was no more ready than we perceive ourselves to be and yet, as James Stewart said, he did indeed come to a world prepared. The world was ready for a Savior. History’s darkness had reached critical mass and had so engulfed its subjects in shadows that none could ever feel prepared for a visitation from God. It was time for Light! It is time for light again today and it is time for Christmas in our hearts. 

What, then, is the preparation necessary to experience the season? Is it shopping early and well? Is it decorating with flair or cooking with love? Is it having the proper thoughts and arranging one’s life to be free of stressful last-minuteness or even getting things ready at church. All of that can be (but not necessarily IS) important and helpful. But that is not the preparation that God requires. 

In fact, the preparation that God requires is not that which we provide at all. The naked truth is that God has prepared our hearts for Christmas. It is always now that we may welcome the Son of God into our hearts afresh. It is always in our darkness that the light is welcome. And it is always our own unawareness and self-reliance that humbugizes us. Suddenly it is Christmas and we are ready. Glory to God!