Got your attention, didn’t I? If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s coming up with catchy titles.
I’ve been thinking lately, about Christmas. I’m not sure I will be able to effectively describe what I’ve been feeling during this season when all is jolly and festive and bright, but I’ll try. I certainly haven’t been feeling jolly and bright. In fact my heart has been breaking.
Those of you who know me know that Christmas is a hard time of year for me anyway. I’ve never figured out why, I’ve just learned to push through to January when things start setting themselves somewhat right again.
This year is different. It’s hard for me to pull my thoughts together to focus on one thing, but I will try to express some of the thoughts and feelings that have inserted themselves into my head in a way that will, I think, forever change my feelings about Christmas.
First, let me explain about the title “Getting Naked at Christmas.” In the 20th chapter of Isaiah, God tells Isaiah to “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot. God told Isaiah to do this because the people weren’t listening to God. After Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722-721 B.C., Hezekiah, King of Judah was under great pressure to make an alliance with Egypt, even though Isaiah urgently warned against it. Hezekiah and the people weren’t listening, so in obedience, Isaiah stripped of his sackcloth and sandals and got their attention.
I believe we are in the same place today. We’re not listening. We have learned to quiet the voice of Holy Spirit who resides within us as we succumb to external pressures of family and society who continue to do the things that go with Christmas. Buying gifts for everyone you think might possibly buy a gift for you. Planning to spend time with loved ones (or not so loved ones), because the societal belief is that “Christmas is all about being with family.” Well, I love being with my family, most of whom live on the other side of the United States, but not because of Christmas. And I’ve never seen a pin or bumper sticker that reads “Family is the Reason for the Season.”
It’s true, this time of year evokes familial feelings that we tend to lay aside through the busyness of the rest of our year. Some of us have long-held family traditions that we cherish and long to pass on to our own children. Family traditions at Christmas can make for wonderful memories this time of year. My husband decided one year to give his son some cash, but wanted a unique way of delivering it. He decided to hide it in a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper, but disguise the soft drink package as something else. I don’t remember what he make the package look like that first year, but it was a fun gift and over the years his son has received many 12-packs of Dr. Pepper, disguised as various objects. It has been a fun tradition in our family to see what he’ll come up with next.
But what of other traditions? What about acting like “Jesus is the reason for the season” and not just saying it to people? What about celebrating Advent in the weeks before Christmas as we anticipate, along with Mary and Joseph, the birth of our Savior, and later the second coming of our King? What about that tradition?
I know you’re out there. I know there are those of you who hold these traditions very close to your heart. You teach your children to honor Christ this time of year as the King who became flesh and saved the world from sin. I have to believe you’re out there somewhere. Maybe it’s just my little world where Christmas has become command performances with plenty of wine and champagne. We may know in our hearts what this season is all about, but no one around us is any the wiser (and prefers it that way). We raise our glasses with them and celebrate “life,” or “family,” or “friendship,” when we know so well that without God, those things have very little meaning.
I can’t do it anymore. I must honor the One who is my only hope — the babe who loved me before I even knew him. The One who loves me now, even though I’ve crumbled under the pressure (and dare I say–not that much pressure), to be like everyone else.
It’s time to come clean. It’s time to get naked. (And before you get silly, I must point out that naked is NOT the same thing has nude.) It’s time to stop doing what people around me think I should be doing and start being where Jesus wants me to be and doing what Jesus wants me to do. It’s time to stop hiding out of fear of rejection and start standing up, even if my courage peeks out through knocking knees. That’s what I’m doing for Christmas this year. How are you celebrating?
There is only one gift I want this year. I want the eyes hearts to be opened up to see Jesus for who he is. I want all those who claim to love God to be captured with his love and wholly given over to loving him and serving him. That’s what I want for Christmas, and I’m not asking Santa for it.
Happy Birthday, Jesus. Wish you were here.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
