Christmas is not the happiest time of the year for many of us. Most of the year holds little happiness for many. What is particularly hard is that for some reason we all pretend that come the holiday season we should all be merry and bright. Christians are the worst about this.
Recently during our congregational prayer we have spent a lot of time praying for those who are or will be suffering during this Christmas. I wonder, what would the witness of Christianity be in our world if we quit pretending everything was OK in the world because a baby was born in a manger in Bethlehem and instead admitted that everything is not OK, but that as a result of Christ’s birth there is hope for those honest enough to admit that they are part of the brokenness of our world and need salvation that comes from above/outside/beyond us? Jesus is good news for suffering people.
The greatness of the Christ event shines brightest in great darkness. This poem does a great job of being much more faithful to a Christian understanding of Christmas than, say, that abomination that is “Silent Night.” Enjoy –
A Table Prepared 