End of year busyness

It seems to be that time of year again. The shopping malls are crowded, perhaps also because of the school holidays. And they are beginning to play Christmas carols!! Today I heard the one with the words..."Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day..." at one of the malls. The green trees are beginning to be displayed, decorated and sold. And we know that end of year is coming again.

I had a chat with a friend the other day and we remarked that we are past the age and stage where we enjoy getting all 'crazy busy' around Christmas. We can recall those years when the many church events around this season really filled the last few weeks of the year with so much to do that the meaning of it all was more or less lost to us. And we are quite sure that we do not want to go through that round of entertaining any more. We seek more meaningful interactions with others and would much rather get together with just a few friends. Of course my friend remarked that the younger people probably do not think this way and are quite happy to continue the busy round. I guess we were there too, once.

It would be good for churches to have a more balanced perspective about this festive season. Sure, it is important to take the opportunity to host evangelistic events but there is surely a place too for Christians just getting together to share with one another the deeper meaning of the incarnation. Perhaps we can use the weeks of Advent (which begins on Sunday December 2nd) to seek meaning again amidst the many festive events we anticipate. Perhaps then our Lord may find "room" to be "born" in our hearts and lives.