Monday, December 26, 2005 at 2:02am
No Room? Make Room!
It's a crazy time of year: too much to do, too much shopping, too much cooking and decorating, too many holiday parties; all in a season when our biological clocks want to slow down, go inward, rest in the dark of the year, find the wisdom in the endings of things and in new beginnings. Was Jesus born in December? Probably not. But in the northern hemisphere for people accustomed to understanding the cycles of the seasons, the sun was apparently reborn in December.
As the days grew shorter and shorter threatening to pull sunlight from the sky altogether, suddenly the pattern was reversed at the winter solstice, December 21, and the assurance of light and life returned to the world. The rebirth of the sun and the Son's birthday seemed a perfect fit. And so it is that we celebrate Christ's birth in this season of darkness. But at what cost?
As the world speeds up to the measuring of nanoseconds, where is the place in our lives for the birth of a baby? If you have children, you know this challenge. If you don't or are planning to have children in this fast-paced world, let me go over a few things: Babies don't operate on your schedule. Some can be coaxed to regular feeding cycles but most can't. Some will sleep peacefully through the night providing their parents with much needed rest after a long day of diaper changes, feedings, times of colic and unexplained tears and so much more. Most won't. To make room for a baby requires drastic changes in our too-busy lives.
The world hasn't changed all that much in 2,000 years. People in Jesus' time had no room in their lives for the birth of this King of Kings. No room in the inn. No room in their hearts. No room in their lives. In his brief stay among us he was rejected and despised and eventually crucified for his dangerous teachings: He called us to make room in our hearts and in our lives for love, for babies at their most demanding, for enemies and strangers as well as dear family and friends.
He challenged us to make room for compassion for ourselves as well. When was the last time you truly created a safe and comforting place for your own deepest spiritual needs, for meditation, prayer, Sabbath rest?
Slow down. Remember the magic and wonder in a baby's eyes. Imagine the wonder in Mary's heart as she heard the stories from the shepherds, the proclamation of angels, the visit of the magi. Let yourself receive a blessing this holiday season. Allow yourself to be loved by God the way God loved Jesus. Make room! It might just transform your life.
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © copyright 2005 by Kristi Denham.
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UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum is a big tent for all expressions
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum.
As the days grew shorter and shorter threatening to pull sunlight from the sky altogether, suddenly the pattern was reversed at the winter solstice, December 21, and the assurance of light and life returned to the world. The rebirth of the sun and the Son's birthday seemed a perfect fit. And so it is that we celebrate Christ's birth in this season of darkness. But at what cost?
As the world speeds up to the measuring of nanoseconds, where is the place in our lives for the birth of a baby? If you have children, you know this challenge. If you don't or are planning to have children in this fast-paced world, let me go over a few things: Babies don't operate on your schedule. Some can be coaxed to regular feeding cycles but most can't. Some will sleep peacefully through the night providing their parents with much needed rest after a long day of diaper changes, feedings, times of colic and unexplained tears and so much more. Most won't. To make room for a baby requires drastic changes in our too-busy lives.
The world hasn't changed all that much in 2,000 years. People in Jesus' time had no room in their lives for the birth of this King of Kings. No room in the inn. No room in their hearts. No room in their lives. In his brief stay among us he was rejected and despised and eventually crucified for his dangerous teachings: He called us to make room in our hearts and in our lives for love, for babies at their most demanding, for enemies and strangers as well as dear family and friends.
He challenged us to make room for compassion for ourselves as well. When was the last time you truly created a safe and comforting place for your own deepest spiritual needs, for meditation, prayer, Sabbath rest?
Slow down. Remember the magic and wonder in a baby's eyes. Imagine the wonder in Mary's heart as she heard the stories from the shepherds, the proclamation of angels, the visit of the magi. Let yourself receive a blessing this holiday season. Allow yourself to be loved by God the way God loved Jesus. Make room! It might just transform your life.
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © copyright 2005 by Kristi Denham.
UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum is a big tent for all expressions
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum.