Wrapped Up the Wrong Way

We had a devo the other day with the workers at the Swanson's "sitio," a place they hope will one day become a children's home, but that currently houses the church. It is still under construction, so the Swansons cook food for and have devos with the workers. The point of the devo was to refocus our attention on the core of the holiday: Jesus. Amid the rush of buying presents, cooking food, inviting family over, and singing popular carols, we must remember the birth of our savior. Carlos, one of the workers, wanted to know how it was that the Jews didn't accept the Messiah. We explained that the Bible says they were so wrapped up in their traditions that they missed the signs of the Messiah. Which, we said, should be a reminder to us, as well. Don't get so wrapped up in the Christmas traditions that you forget to look for the Messiah, the very reason why we celebrate. Later on in the week, a small group of us were talking about what Chileans do for Christmas, what Mexicans do, and what Americans do. Carlos smiled and said, "But don't forget to remember Christ." I gave him a thumbs-up.

For Christmas Eve, the church had a little celebration that they called, "Jesus' Birthday." They had games, songs, dancing, clapping, and laughter. They presented a little drama about Joseph searching for an inn for Mary. I was reminded of days of old, when plebeians would write a drama extolling the adventures of their monarch. They would then perform their plays before the king. It was their way of creatively expressing their praise. But I digress. At the end of the church celebration, the church lit candles on a cake, turned off the lights, and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

One of the games struck me especially. It involved rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, and lots of laughter. "Today we celebrate Jesus' birthday," said the leader, "and for birthdays, we give the birthday person a gift. We don't bring gifts to the other guests. We only bring a gift to the one celebrating the birthday. The greatest gift that we can give to Jesus is ourselves, simply and wholly." Two volunteers then stood on a chair while the rest of their team wrapped them up like a present. Guests to the church served as the panel of judges to decide who won.

I realized then that we tend to wrap ourselves up the wrong way. Rather than wrapping ourselves up as presents for God, we wrap ourselves up in holiday traditions, forgetting Who's birth day we're celebrating in the first place. I know that this year's Christmas has taken me so far away from my Christmas stereotypes that it has forced me to remember why I celebrate Christmas at all.

I wish to remind you to think about Christ today. It is, after all, the day we celebrate His coming to a world in need. It is, as a friend reminded me some Christmases ago, the night that God touched man in a physical way. He was the baby and we were the adults, and yet He was God and we were His creation. It is . . . all about HIM. Wrap yourself up the right way this Christmas, not in traditions but in simplicity and faith.

Not wrapped up in customs, I,

Nor tied to old traditions,

Trying not to trap myself

In regular conditions,

No, I choose to wrap myself,

A present to my Lord,

Present myself a present to

The One I have adored.