The Christmas season has officially arrived in the Ojai Valley. Tree lighting ceremonies have taken place in Ojai and Oak View, and carols are already filling the air. A large nativity display at the “Y” will soon be animated with live participants in costume. Holiday party invitations and greeting cards have flooded the post office. Children’s choirs are busy rehearsing their songs. Wish lists are conspicuously left on kitchen tables, while parents and grandparents pore over their online account balances. In my own family, Nutcracker mania has hit as my house full of performers practices their steps. At every turn, the Grinch seems to lurk over our shoulders, trying to steal the moment—and the meaning—of Christmas.
Almost everyone I know is feeling the weight of pressure right now—even the kids. Tough economic times have left many families struggling, and sickness and death don’t take a break for the holiday season. For some, loneliness is par for the course in December. It also happens to be finals week for many students, so there’s no room to announce “Joy to the World” until after exams are over. Pre-calculus, astronomy, biology, geometry, Spanish, English—the list of subjects to study in our household seems endless. On the positive side, I get to relearn everything I missed or forgot from my own school days. We want to finish putting up the lights on the house, but there’s too much to do. The older the kids get, the higher the stakes, and the more critical success becomes. Every parent who has navigated the pre-college process will relate to me on this. And yet, the goal is to not lose perspective and to keep Christ at the center of Christmas.
Part of the problem, however, may lie in our sanitized celebration of the Holy Day. While I love Disneyland and its sparkling, twinkling presentation, it bears little resemblance to the real night we should be remembering. It may be encouraging for some to know that the events of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem were anything but glamorous. Think about it. The Romans imposed a tax with a deadline for payment. In those days, one had to travel to the city of their family roots to officially pay the tax. There was no lodging available because of the overwhelming number of people forced to show up and make their contribution. No one would travel such a harsh terrain at nine months pregnant unless facing a dire deadline. The shelter they found was cold, smelly, and unsanitary. It was a grave disappointment in an already distressing and chaotic situation. Yet, it was the birthplace of the Savior of the world.
Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, trying to fit everything in. For you, fighting mall traffic might sound like a relief compared to what you’re facing. Perhaps you’re wrestling with resentment or frustration. It may be that your dreams of a perfect Christmas are too bright and polished. It might help to “dirty up” your Christmas a little and reflect on the real story.
A recent trip to Israel served as a poignant reminder of the real Bethlehem. Perhaps you, too, should take an hour to reflect on the Prince of Peace. Open your Bible and read the story. The humble, rudimentary conditions of the not-so-grand entrance of the only begotten Son of God were no accident—they were divinely orchestrated in heaven. But why? The answer to that question changes everything.
Author: Dan Nelson
Pastor Dan Nelson, Bible teacher and author, is dedicated to spreading the life-changing truths of God’s Word