Missing Christmas: Distractions

“You’re skipping Christmas!  Isn’t that against the law?”

While you may not react to the news of your neighbors “skipping” Christmas quite like neighbors in the film “Christmas with the Kranks” did, the reality is anyone choosing to skip or miss out on Christmas would seem a little odd to most of us.

For most, Christmas is a wonderful time spent with family and friends, celebrating traditions, sharing gifts and appreciating all that we have been blessed with – especially the birth of God’ son.  Most of us would never imagine skipping out on Christmas, as the Kranks plan on doing due to their daughter being away for the holidays.  However, many of us are at risk to miss out on Christmas, for a variety of reasons. 

This chance at “missing Christmas” isn’t’ something new.  It’s actually something that’s been happening since the very first Christmas.  Over the next few weeks we are going to take a look at some of the characters who almost missed out on the true meaning of Christmas – they almost missed out on the birth of Jesus.

As we learn from these stories, there are many things that can keep us from being transformed by Jesus’ birth – whether it be distraction, selfishness, or disappointment.   When we look at these moments found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, we are reminded that we could miss out on the real meaning of Christmas if we aren’t careful.

The first way that we can potentially miss Christmas is through distraction.  We can find an example of this early in the first Christmas story, as Mary and Joseph are looking for a place to rest.  They came to an inn, to inquire about some space.  And Luke 2:7  says, that “there was no room for them in the inn”.

This small sentence contains a big message: Joseph and Mary tried to get into the inn, but they weren’t afforded a normal room.  Instead they were left to take shelter in a stable or small cave near by.  Mary’s condition must have been obvious.  It leaves us to wonder: what was going on in the innkeepers mind?

Maybe his or her sense of compassion was overshadowed by the distraction of making money – it wouldn’t be good for business to have a woman giving birth in those close quarters with other paying guests.  Whatever the motives, the innkeepers missed out on the miraculous entrance of God in human form.  The innkeeper missed the first Christmas.

And like the innkeeper, we can be distracted by the pressures around us and miss out on the miracle of Christmas.  We want to encourage you, especially during this advent seasons to slow down and take time to remember what Christmas is all about. 

One way in which we would like to partner with you in this effort is through our Advent Family Resource.  This year, it’s called “The Spirit of Christmas” and if you haven’t already picked one up at the church you can download a digital copy HERE.

Use this resource or find other ways to slow down as a family and appreciate what Christmas is all about, Whatever you decide … don’t’ miss Christmas, because I think it’s against the law or something.