Time flies and the year is ending. Another year, another opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth. I know there are presents and lights on the trees, well-worn carols to put everyone in the gift-giving mood. I know the story of Mary’s immaculate conception, of Jesus’ birth in a manger to save us all. His life and death as studied in Luke the past year.
But every December I realize how easy it is to forget all this – the selflessness and sacrifice that Jesus made, for us. And I discover how many more don’t know why Christmas even exists, except that it requires one to buy gifts for others so that one doesn’t come off looking like a scrooge or a cheap.
We performed “Christmas around the World” this year for our annual church choir cantata. Hoor de eng’len zingen d’eer, kom alle getroues, Himig Pasko… carols and songs heralding Jesus’ birth, life and death in 16 different languages. It was pretty cool performing songs in weird, weird languages and listening to the Filipino, Indonesian and Chinese choirs rock the stage with their performances. The concert highlighted how different we all are, a bunch of strangers from 52 different nations brought together because of God and this was a glimpse of heaven.
I have changed much in the past few years. College was like four years of happily wading through the unknown without fear, while work life was and is, a struggle to define myself and what makes me happy. Whatever anyone says about Christians, I am deeply grateful that I am in a relationship with God, working on my imperfections.
