Tension in the Season
Here it is, the week of Christmas, and I’m finding it hard to get excited about celebrating the holidays. I’m caught in the middle of wanting to get excited with my wife and new daughter and being an executive director of a nonprofit that serves people that are in need of help.
There is no “turning off the work switch," or at least not for very long. I scroll through the over 100 projects at NeighborLink Fort Wayne and I listen to the voicemails of people pleading for us to help them out with their leaking roofs and need for a helping hand and I wonder what type of Christmas they’ll have. Part of me feels guilty that their holiday won’t be as peaceful as mine and the other part of me is glad I can escape from the realities of their struggle. This is not a tension that produces a lot of positive feelings and yet it’s a tension I can’t escape. (and one I’m not sure I really want to escape)
This isn’t a post about needing a solution nor to make anyone feel guilty for how they celebrate the Christmas season. This post is a reminder to me and maybe to you, to truly embrace the spirit of Christmas as it was always intended to be and to think about those less fortunate this year.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
If you’re needing a little perspective for reasons to celebrate the holidays, the coming of the Messiah and the reason we put our hope in Him, take a look at the seemingly impossible projects that are waiting for assistance over to NLFW.org. Please take a project and pray for their needs as you give thanks this year.
