I flew once to New Zealand with my wife over Christmas time. However,
strangely enough, when we flew out from our country on December 20th, we didn't
reach New Zealand until morning, December 22nd. What happened to the 21st?
Someone had stolen that day from us!!! Too late did we realize that as soon as
we crossed over the International Time Line, it's as if we crossed over the
Twilight zone. Not only did we lose a day somewhere somehow, but since we were
flying down over the equator, we also experienced reverse seasons. Our cold and
bitter winter from North America turned into a welcome warm (and hopefully
sunny, not rainy) summer. Our short days extended to much longer daylight hours.
For once we were celebrating Christmas in the summer!
However imagine if we had flown on December 24th, we would have literally missed
Christmas! We would have left Christmas Eve and have arrived on Boxing day! We
would have been robbed of our Christmas!
But then, I need to ask myself as well: how many of us have missed the real
purpose of Christmas on a yearly basis? If we contemplate these holidays as just
a hectic time where one rushes from one store to another, in order to get
presents for a long list of beloved people, then we may have let ourselves be
robbed from the real meaning of Christmas.
The word itself gives us an inkling of what we are celebrating: Christ mass! No
wonder some want to get rid of this word completely "He was in the world, and
though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came
to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:10-12 NIV)
History tends to repeat itself!
The real Christmas however is to celebrate the One who came to this world with
only one purpose on His mind: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
(Matt 1:21 NIV) "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and
they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us." (Matt 1:23 NIV)
May we find the real meaning of Christmas and be jubilant that God truly loves
each one of us!
"Sir, please fasten your seatbelt!"
"Oops, sorry, my thoughts were elsewhere."
"That's all right. Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you as well."
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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