Christmas time is here! Time for old traditions and the unexpected, like when a family member you haven’t seen for years shows up for the big family event. This holiday season, we may not necessarily know what’s coming around the corner.
…or that’s what I thought as I looked at my handheld device to see what the weather was going to be for the next ten days. Any time I have a question, be it benign or critical to my current task, I can take the unknown right out of the equation, thanks to technology and the predictable lives we have set up for ourselves in this modern era.
A once healthy sense of amazement and anticipation have now been set to the side as we meal-plan and calendar all of our meetings for the foreseeable future.
When asked about Christmas wonder, I thought about my holiday pastime and caught a glimmer of memories where everyone had gone to bed and I stood hopefully before a tree late at night with presents underneath. I thought about believing in someone that flies (literally!) in the face of air traffic regulators, with the help of eight tiny reindeer.
The mystery of those times have perhaps faded in the process of acquiring responsibilities, jobs, and other adult things.
Recently, however, my young son has reignited my fascination with the unexplainable. He is sold out on this Christmas thing! It’s not just the presents but the lights, the music, the decorations, the snow globes, the tree, and the nativity scenes. This eight-year-old maintains three Advent calendars! He also has opinions on how the decorations should be placed and when to turn on the lights that line our roof outside.
Through it all, I look into his eyes and see the magic that this time of year brings.
The wonder and mystery of Christmas is a very real experience for this boy, and even though he may not understand why, he loves it. As we grow older, it’s easy to try and explain away things outside of our experience with reason and rationality. The Christmas season is the one time of year where we can accept and revel in the pageantry of the absurd.
Elves make toys in a workshop at the North Pole?
Sure.
A host of angels lit up the night sky singing and scaring nearby shepherds half to death?
Of course!
NORAD tracks Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve?
Look it up.
We can also bask in the unknowable and enjoy silly things like dressing in ugly sweaters.
Mine has Super Mario on it.
Most importantly, the Supreme Being of the universe decided it was time to enter time and space in the form of something small and defenseless so that we can have a life beyond the stars in community and divinity.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” John 17:3.
This Christmas, may you experience the wonder of a child that doesn’t need to understand why we tell these stories every year, but has fun just the same. Let the God of imagination, silliness, and awe guide us as we enjoy this holiday together.
Kevin Straine works at La Sierra University and is married to Marni and father to Cooper and Milo.