Christmas 2023

In a world boiling over with conflict – real and political – it is important to take time to reflect on what is really important. This is the season that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah. He became the path to salvation. So true was His course that, in the end, He sacrificed His life for the forgiveness of our sins.

His rules were simple: Honor the Lord. Love one another. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

But even at that, He understood the nature of mankind. That while we were capable of living within those rules there would be instances when we chose a different path – a divergent path. And even at that He provided a means by which we could recover through forgiveness and a return to those simple rules. Some would and some would not. But the opportunity was and is always there.

It may seem too simplistic or too naive but in reality the challenge is to us individually. Will you find a way to live a life within those simple rules despite the challenge of those who defy them. This is not John Lennon singing “All we are saying, is give peace a chance.” We cannot control the actions of others as Mr. Lennon suggests. We can only control our own.

So as we celebrate Christmas will we accept the simple rules given by Jesus, lived by Jesus, and for which He sacrificed His life. That is singularly your choice. Will you pursue it regardless of the actions of others. It may be as simple as my wife’s admonition to our granddaughters: She believed she could, and so she did. (That is equally applicable to our grandson but he is out numbered 4:1.)

Merry Christmas to each of you.