Christmas

This Christmas looks a little different for me.

I’m not much of one for wish lists, and to be clear, even if I was, a microscopic, mutated spike-protein virus named the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 would not be on said list. Similarly, like what viruses do to cells, these little buggers hijacked my holiday season. Tiny bastards.

But let’s zoom out from my story for a moment. Christmas can also be a confusing, hectic time, as the secular and religious worlds collide.

Am I the only one wondering where we got the mythically jolly, fat, red-suit clad, white-bearded man named Santa Claus who judges us each year to be naughty or nice, comes down a chimney each year at Christmas to deliver gifts, eat a plate of cookies, and go on his merry way? And he sees me when I’m sleeping? Sounds like a weirdo, to me.

And don’t even get me started on the the Krampus. This creature, perhaps followed closely behind the abominable snowman, is the subject of my nightmares.

Now, I am by no means saying we should throw our imaginations out the window. On the contrary, actually. This folklore heavily contributes to the season being a magical time of joy and cheer.

Yet, for many of us, the holidays are lonely, full of grief, and sadness. Quarantined away from family and friends has made me empathize more than ever with those who are in this space.

Yet, in spite of the unideal circumstances, I feel more loved and joyful than one might think. One main vessel for said joy streams in from my phone in the form of voices and faces of people I love. Precious moments flood through my screen that include scenes like my nephew – the little drummer boy – having fun on my old drum kit, showing off his fort, and playing with new RC monster trucks. There have been virtual dinners shared and sweet check-in calls or thoughtful texts from friends.

Other packages of cheer come in a literal sense – delivered from kind friends and family (you know who you are). Some cheer is experiential – playing my keyboard, walking around the nature preserve by my apartment, writing this post, or getting lost in my books.

But the real Christmas cheer comes from within. It’s as if the cells in my body are in agreement, rejoicing, as if to say “The war is won! We, the great soldiers of the immune system army, have defeated the viral intruders!”

Similarly, as a follower of Jesus, Christmas means to celebrate that the war over sin, over our lives, over the world, is won.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:11

The course of humanity is changed by the Light of His Presence. So, really, every day is Christmas.

O Come, let us adore Him.

With all my love,

Joe

P..S. Thank God for technology. And for aromatic beard oil that smells like Santa’s workshop. 🙂