Chris Beales-White is a member of the Carey Baptist College board and Paraparaumu Baptist Church.
This year, I got my first real Christmas tree in decades. A friend cut it down from the property I work on, and maybe when it comes to Christmas pines, you get what you pay for. This tree was free. While it smells delightful, quite a bit of yarn prevents some of the more protruding branches from looking like E.T.’s finger. And we have the decorations to match, with the words “Homemade”, “eclectic”, and “kindy craft”, accurately describing our style. Somehow, the angel at the top of the tree lost her head in less than a day.
Our tree definitely doesn’t reflect the Instagram and social media-worthy Christmas displays we see around this time of year. It is not the perfect bows, curated wreaths and matching PJ’s aesthetic. But I think maybe the chaotic, random, and a bit wonky decor might be a better fit with the Christmas story.
Maybe Mary wasn’t so happy about a donkey ride in late pregnancy. Maybe Joseph wasn’t ready to father a son that wasn’t his. And then we have Jesus, Son of God, King of Heaven, not born in a palace, but in a manger. Jesus, Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, not come for the perfect but for the utterly imperfect and messy.
At Christmas time, we remember the God of the universe who chose to become Immanuel, God with us.
God joins us in our mess.
Christmas is not always about beautifully curated holidays and happy families. For many of us, the reality of Christmas can be complex. It can be filled with joyful moments: Christmas parties, carols, school prize giving, family and friends. But some of those same things can be complicated, too: Strained family relationships, the first Christmas without someone, financial pressures, and loneliness.
Our lives are not perfect Christmas trees that are symmetrical and covered with pristine adornments. They often are the wonky real-life ones, sometimes held together by string, with a headless angel on top.
But thankfully, our God chose to enter our mess and meet us there.
My prayer for us all on this Christmas day is that we would encounter God not in the decor and presents but in the cooking of food and washing of dishes. May Christmas become real for you this year because Christ came into real life. May you know the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ as you celebrate his birth this Christmas Day, whatever shape that day takes.
May Immanuel, God with us, be God with you today.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Image: supplied by Chris Beales-White
