A mum was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours
of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and hearing
both her children asking for everything they saw on the shelves, she finally
made it to the lift to leave the store. She rubbed her weary eyes with a hand weighed down with three loaded carrier bags and sighed as she waited for the lift to come to her floor, the kids pulling constantly on her coat sleeves and screeching in tired frustration. She was feeling what
so many of us feel during this time of the year. Overwhelming pressure! Pressure to go to
every party, or get the kids to theirs, taste all the holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift
for every single person on our shopping list, not forgetting anyone on our card
list, and the pressure of making sure that Christmas is altogether 'magical'.
Finally the lift doors opened and there was already a crowd inside. She
pushed her way into the lift and dragged her two kids in with her and all the
bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and muttered with bitter resignation,
"Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and
shot." From the back of the lift everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't
worry, we already did that - we crucified Him." For the rest of the trip down the lift
was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
It can be so hard to keep our heads above water at this time of the year and find space to maintain our own peace, and especially our walk with God. I don't think Jesus invented the modern Christmas and must be feeling pretty left out of it all anyway. But I came across a really helpful translation of a passage in the ancient gospel of Matthew that just about sums up what Jesus might say to us if we had a minute for him. "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28 – 30 from The Message).
If Christmas feels "heavy or ill-fitting" we can be pretty sure Jesus didn't lay it on us, and maybe we should spend a few moments tuning his way at a time supposed to be all about him? Give it a go anyway and see if you can get through this season "freely and lightly".
