A Better Way

Christmas is an interesting season. On the one hand we call it “the most wonderful time of the year” and most people have a lot of nostalgia around it. We get to wear cozy sweaters, eat delicious treats, see people we don’t normally see, listen to Mariah Carey sing Christmas songs, and spend time focusing on the birth of Jesus. But on the other hand, the way people talk about Christmas makes it sound like a season that is meant to be endured not enjoyed. Between the extra social obligations, the cold weather, the financial obligations to give the right gifts, the difficult family dynamics, and the reminder that some of our loved ones are no longer with us, Christmas can be difficult. Our hope with Advent this year is to hold the tension of this season faithfully. We want to be real with the challenges of Christmas, but we want to hold that tension in a faith-filled way learning to embrace the better way of the Kingdom of God. Not numbing the pain with snickerdoodle cookies and busyness, but instead finding Jesus in the middle of it all.