In this welcome moment of quiet, to breathe and reflect,
I now have a spot of time to share some Christmas thoughts:

The bottom line of anything significant is Love.

Here I am, surrounded by love of the dearest family ever (to me!)
and the most lush display of tropical splendour!
The sun shines hot and golden and the breeze blows cool and crisp…
like a perfect autumn afternoon…
but it’s a Caribbean morning. After the night-time rain fall,
all the clean shiny leaves on trees bounce brilliant white
sparkles of sunlight from their satin green bodies.
And their trees cast dancing filigree shadows
in chiaroscuro play all around me!

And I feel the tender Love of our Creator in the extravagance of His creation.

I am continually touched by the personalness,
if I can coin a new word, of God. Unlike the God depicted in my youth,
He is not impersonal and neither is the realm of His kingdom
an abstract void of detachment. To the contrary,
He is so filled with Love for us that He worked out a way
for a Son to be born into this earth to provide an eternal opportunity
for man to be reinstated with his original birthright from creation…
full and complete access and intimate relationship with Himself.
Intimate friendship. Holy communion with the Creator of All!
He knows our every desire, strength and weakness, and completely loves us –
no strings attached! He shows us this Love in a myriad of ways.
And as we live, it is His desire that we learn to see, hear, sense,
and appreciate this more and more…
and that we might express our gratitude
with the same Love we have received so abundantly.
(It has been given…Have we received it?)

The holiday of Christmas is a mishmash of so many things.
But the true event of the birth of the long-prophesied Messiah is sweetly sung
through scripture and echoed in the beautiful carols that find their way home
in the hearts of those who are listening. It is the most bitter-sweet
story of all stories, that is historically true, and not a myth.
Perhaps this contributes to the pang of pathos
that is often felt by many at this time of year.

There is joy and then there is this…this feeling.
Some chalk it off to emotions and family memories (the good and not so good.)
Some say it’s a loneliness. Some call it depression, and an effort is made
to scoop up lonely individuals to be sure they are not alone on Christmas…
and to surround them with love.

There is both merry-making and solemn reflection.
And this happens, whether people are “believers” or not!
This is interesting to me.
Somehow, God calls to us in our hearts. Knocks on the door:

“Is there room in the inn? Oh, Please? Special Delivery! Please find some room! ”

The bottom line of anything significant is Love.
This idea is as old as Eden! But surely it’s worth repeating.
It may well be the only thing worth repeating, as I live and breathe.

May you continually experience the richness of God’s exquisite Love and grace
right now, where you are, and in the year to come!

love,