I was the kid who loved the start of the school year. New everything – books, supplies, teachers, subjects (some of which were enjoyed while others were . . .) By high school, the sense of community with other students was a great shaping factor of my life. There was the ‘joy’ of mindless griping about tests and early mornings and long bus rides. There were the humorous (naughty?) comparisons of different teachers’ mannerisms – like Mr. Stenhouse, who would come straight from teaching gym class to teach science in his tee shirt and sweatpants (shockingly casual back in the dark ages when shirts and ties were de rigueur for profs!). Senior year was full of the thrill of our upcoming graduation. This was the all-important rite of passage liberating us from the ‘grind’ of classes. We were all, I think, blissfully unaware of the shock that would accompany this beginning of many things, like getting a job, preparing for college, etc. I distinctly remember the first day of school after graduation. I was at my first ‘real’ job, as a junior clerk in an accounting office. I was surprised to feel a bit sad and empty at the thought of no longer being included in that annual ritual and reunion with classmates. A page had been irrevocably turned.
We’ve just spent four weeks anticipating the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. It’s been rich re-reading the familiar story. It’s been comforting to revisit the truth that God’s Plan ‘A’ has always been intact, and that no matter what things currently look like, He is still in control. It’s amazed us one more time to think of the people God chose to be involved in this Kingdom adventure. It’s even been thrilling to ponder His choosing us in the same way. But that anticipation period is over. Jesus has been born to us. All the build up has been stuffed into a 24-hour period and now we speak of Christmas in the past tense, of this birth in the past tense, to be shelved until this time next year. Done and dusted as our British friends might say.
But is it? Was it just a romantic folly? Manger scenes with little children playing dress-up? Lovely decorations and carols and shiny bows on everything, including our dogs? Or is there more? Even much more? Is the present Jesus as powerfully engaging as the about-to-come babe in a manger? If so, how do we ‘graduate’ from Advent to Christmas and beyond? What are our new expectations as one year ends and a New Year launches? With what shall we fill that post-holiday void? How shall we celebrate now? I can tell you I’m very much looking forward to seeing you still-celebrating saints tomorrow, 10 AM, 3 PM UK, 4 PM ES. PD
