Post-Christmas Flu

For many who work in ministry, Christmas day is spent with a fever and other miserable symptoms of flus and colds. Although i was not sick this Christmas 2008, many other Christmases have been spent all wrapped in blankets, drugged up on Theraflu. We ride an adrenaline rush between Thanksgiving and Christmas, creating the joy of the season for others. Then we collapse with exhaustion when it's time to celebrate the Birth of Hope.
I remember the fervor in the church of my youth. "Christmas eve might be the only time these folks are in here all year, so we better save 'em while we got 'em." They think that cramming the entire Passion and Easter story into Christmas is their responsibility; the kid's not even weaned before we're brutally beating him and nailing him to a cross. Instead of using the season to celebrate the light of Christ, born as a human baby, we use the day to proselytize to our captive audience.
I don't think that this "trap 'em & convert 'em" method of evangelism is in keeping with the way in which Jesus lived his life. Of course, Jesus had the "big picture" in mind, but he also savored moments breaking bread with his friends, welcoming children to set examples for grownups, heal sick hearts and minds and bodies, and redeem the world into which he had been born, one life at a time. Celebrating his birth is emotional enough; think about the mixed emotions that come with a baby's birth! I'm not a mom, so i can only imagine the joy and terror, enthusiasm and exhaustion. The baby Jesus invites us to pause in awe and wonder; our invitation to follow his example is down the road a piece.
I've decided to make a list of the things that i want to do differently next year during Advent and Christmas. I'm going to put the list on my calendar for next year on November 1 (the day after Halloween, AKA "All Saints' Day”), with a reminder from both Outlook AND my Gmail calendar. It will be called "A season of Health and Wholeness." I will live in the moment with the "big picture" in mind.
In the present, as we nurse our tired spirits and cluttered minds, we are invited to join the celebration at a less-than-fever-pitch. Let's breathe for a moment; listen to our bodies and obey them. We let the joy of Christ's birth in our world sink deeply into our bones and give thanks.
Peace!