'Tis the season

Yes, it's drawing closer to that magical time of gumdrops, and sugar canes, and dreams in the heads of children everywhere. This Thursday Dec. 1st, my wife and I will observe our annual tradition of putting up our Christmas tree and basically Christmas-a-sizing our home. It will also be the first time that our young daughter actually gets to really enjoy the time with us. Well, at least, the Christmas tree will provide her with something else to grab at that we must contantly teach her not to grab at.

I actually really enjoy the holiday season. I enjoy it for a few reasons. I enjoy the celebration of peace and goodwill to all men. I enjoy hot apple cider (the staff at our local coffee pub can attest to that). I enoy listening to Loreena McKennitt's "To Drive The Cold Winter Away" while we put up decorations (thanks for that permanently brainwashed tradition, Dad). I enjoy sitting down to dinner with my wife's side of the family altogether at one table. I enjoy the Star Wars gifts that my mother gives me every year (you know, there are other Episodes than I, Mom). I enjoy the look of contentment on my father's face when he sees his entire family together at the Christmas tree.

I enjoy the look of anticipation on my wife's face when she gets to her presents on Christmas morning (seriously, I swear it's the same expression she's had since she was five years old).

I especially enjoy the idea of the Christmas story. God Himself comes down to Earth as a human and as the child of an unmarried woman. He comes down in this irreligious manner, and wise men and shepherds all worship him. The Mosaic Law, handed down to mankind by God Himself, dictated that a woman pregnant before marriage was to be killed, and God chooses this way to bring Jesus into the world; thereby showing that God does indeed work in mysterious ways. I know it sounds funny, but I'm not sure that I would buy the story any other way. We've all heard stories of messiahs born into wealth, power, and strength. In this story, the Messiah reveals himself through poverty (away in a manger, no crib for a bed) and through improper social conduct. In a weird way, this just seems more real to me.

Life is complicated, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise, is selling something. Isn't it amazing that we get to celebrate the birth story of God through Christ in a real and complicated way?

Merry Christmas!