NTHNHS | Health and Wellbeing Magazine - Issue 2, December 2021

CHRISTMAS Reflections

| By Lead Chaplain, Jim Wright

My brother-in-law was staying with us over Christmas one year when he received a text message from a close friend to say that just before Christmas her house had been burgled, and all her gifts for people and a lot of her own household stuff had been taken. She wasn’t having “A Merry Little Christmas.”

At this time of year, when TV adverts try their best to focus us on a cosy, sentimental sanitised version of Christmas, it is hard when the harsher realities of life breaks through the thin veneer of the Christmas commercials and reminds us of how cruel the world we live in can sometimes be.

However, it so easy to forget the fact that the original Christmas narrative is a story full of hardship: a pregnant unmarried teenager, miles from home because of a decree from the occupying dictatorship that has invaded her country. Giving birth amongst the farm animals, news of the birth of her son reaches a prideful and jealous king, who had heard that this new-born baby was being called ‘King’ and ‘Messiah’. There was only room for one king and King Herod wanted it to be him. He orders his soldiers on a murderous rampage of the area’s young boys, in order to ensure that there is no rival to his throne.

Forewarned of a massacre, the family are uprooted once again, fleeing for their lives and seeking refuge and asylum across the border in Egypt.

Now, I certainly don’t want to put a dampener on anyone’s festivities this Christmas, but I do worry about the pressure put on families and individuals, especially after being assured by Andy Williams’ again and again and again that “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” My fear is that, if we’re not having a wonderful time, then we may begin to think that there is something wrong with us. The adverts would have us believe that the perfect Christmas can be had by buying the right food or the perfect present.

For me, the original Christmas story, with all its challenges, gives me permission to acknowledge that life is not perfect just because it’s late December: There are still people feeling isolated, displaced and alone through situations not of their own making; there are still people on the brink of being overwhelmed with the uncertainty of their current circumstances – COVID-19, job pressures, debt to name but a few; there are still people who fear for their lives because of domestic or national violence; there are still people fleeing for their lives across borders.

However, having said all of that, I actually do believe that Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but not because of presents, turkey and tinsel, but rather because of the reminder that God didn’t remain tucked safely away in heaven, but entered the same world that I experience day by day with all it hardships and opportunities, challenges and joys, heartaches and hopes. Christmas is a time when I am reminded that God drew near and is close no matter what challenges I face.

If you would like to reflect further along these lines, please do pop into the Oasis Spirituality Centre in North Tees to see this year’s Christmas display which address these themes.

My hope for you this Christmas, is that you may know something of God’s peace and presence in the midst of circumstance.