The sting and the shine

On Sunday at Church I spoke to someone who shared that they were feeling less than enthused about Christmas! They described what had created their bar humbug position and how it had been challenged by those who were participating in the meal sharing, gift giving, enjoyment of Christmas.

As one who does a lot of listening, I am aware that this person is far from alone! For many, Christmas has associations that evoke the opposite of fluff and fun. This could be due to the reminder of those who are no longer with us. Or to the spirit of Christmas getting lost in Black Friday sales. Or the consumerist cloud that conceals the one the season represents. Or just that the usual daily stressors don’t cease to exist simply because Christmas is coming!

In short Christmas can remind us of loss in its many guises. Not just of loved ones but of the meaning becoming concealed by consumerism. These are on top of whatever others losses each of us are currently navigating.

There can be a sting in the stress of spending alongside the escalating cost of living, as well as the additional work and pressure for everything to be ‘perfect’. And this in addition to the ordinary storms, strains and stings of life. It’s no wonder that the build up to Christmas can turn folk right off from the true shining star of the season.

On Saturday, a friend and I watched a film called, ‘Oh what fun’. This was rare in that it was set from the female perspective. It illustrated how the women usually do all the unnoticed, often taken for granted, behind the scenes work, that makes everything happen. The film illustrates how Christmas can bring out the best, the worst and all in between for us all, as everything especially emotions, are heightened. It had a poignant but true message that was delivered with humour as well as the guaranteed happy ending!

Whether we love, hate or wish Christmas to be over, the timeless gift in its midst, remains; CHRIST! The season is almost universally accepted as a time of being with loved ones (in small doses!), sharing in celebrations, scoff-fests, singing and togetherness. But the real gift is Christ who is present during the run up, the main event and the year that follows. He helps us to stay focused on him despite all that seeks to draw our attention away from him.

It is ironic that the very season that showcases Jesus as the shining star, can be one in which the surrounding pomp and ceremony as well as the stress, work and expense, can conceal him! These Christ-less consumers of money AND attention, can become a smokescreen to divert, distract and distance us from Christ! And as with every other sphere of life and season, that which we consumes us, can blind us to that which helps, holds and heals us!

However, the good news of this season as with every other, is that we don’t have to passively accept this as the case, just because it was last year or the year before! All year round there will be experiences that sting us in one way, shape or form. These can become amplified during Christmas. However, it is equally true that in every season/storm/stress that stings, lay an opportunity for the God who shines brighter than every sting, to be seen afresh.

We must choose and keep choosing, not to deny what stings, but to continue to seek the one who shines through it all. Christ remains beyond the sales, Amazon delivery’s, family fallouts, unexpected or expected bereavements, stress, ill health or whatever else leaves us with a heavy heart.

Jesus is calling each of us, every day,

“Come to me … here and now … I will put my heart-lifting, heart-holding, heart-warming shine on every step you take, especially those which sting”.

This is true in all seasons including Christmas.

Jesus does NOT say,

“Do not come to me until you’ve got through the stress or sting of Christmas or any other season”!

Jesus is the God of the shine within, above and beyond every sting. He does not need us to make ourselves shiny before we bring the sting to him. He helps us with the sting so we can continue to enjoy his shine in the face of all that stings.

Sometimes we need to consciously choose to re-focus on the one who helps us turn every sting in to a chance to see him shine even brighter. There is no need to delay until the stress/sting of the season is behind us when there is one wanting to help us reclaim the gift of his presence, here and now.