In The Name of the Rebel Jesus .....

I can’t believe my day is almost done ….. yet another Christmas – my 56th to be exact – almost behind me now. It has been a lovely day. Everyone has been pleasant and in good humor – which is not always a given when families congregate – but those kinds of tensions seemed to have vanished in the distant past, as no one seems interested in one-upping anyone else anymore, much less trying to steal center stage. Fortunately, with age and maturity also come a certain wisdom and the ability to set aside childishness in order to make room for what matters most …. fellowship with loved ones.

I was fortunate to enjoy the full spectrum of life today by witnessing the exuberance of childhood dreams fulfilled in the form of gifts from Santa, young – albeit exhausted – parents breathing a sigh of relief at knowing all their efforts had reaped a bountiful harvest as evidenced by youthful laughter and smiles, not to mention screams of ‘glee’ at the realization that believing in that which you cannot see had yielded exceptional results, as well as through the warmth and gratitude exemplified by my elderly parents who needed nothing but received everything they could have ever wanted in the form of two thoughtful daughters were there to spend Christmas Day with them pampering and spoiling them the same way they had done for us year after year during our childhood. I am blessed beyond measure to call myself a loving and devoted daughter, sister, mother and grandmother to a family who is the best gift I could’ve ever wished for.

It’s natural I suppose to reminisce this time of year about Christmases past and feel sad about what life has taken from you along the way ….. for instance I will always miss my brother particularly bad this time of year, because all the way up to his 49th year he continued to embrace the holidays with a childlike energy and innocence that couldn’t help but be infectious. He loved selecting just the right gift, and he often disguised them brilliantly much to his satisfaction. He was the one with the camera pointed in your face taking the most ghastly pictures of my sister and myself to proudly display in an album all their own ….. no make-up, bad bed hair and usually mouth wide open about to swallow a bite of food. The worse they were the more pride he seemed to take at having been the photographer. He also loved the food and the fellowship, and being a perfectionist by nature, I remember the Christmas he decided to master the making of an authentic New York cheesecake. I don’t remember now exactly how many he made before he was certain he had perfected the recipe and the art of the spring-form pan, but suffice it to say he didn’t quit until he was satisfied. He was always upbeat, positive and happy to share in your accomplishments as if they were his own, and I have missed that kind of input in my life more than I can say, but I am happy to report my mother, sister and I have all felt his presence around us of late, and I am truly grateful for his visit.

As I now point my face toward my 57th Christmas off in the distant future, I’ve decided not to be sad for what I no longer have, but rather happy and filled with anticipation for what is yet to come. Life invariably changes and we have to be prepared to move in conjunction with those changes – absent of fear – in order that we may grasp the beauty life still has to offer at any age. As the day draws to a close I like to reflect once more on the reason we all celebrate this season of miracles in the first place ….. the birth of Jesus. Though he only lived just over thirty-three years, I like to think of Him as the ultimate change-agent.

He took ancient ways and beliefs formed during the time of Moses, and molded them into entirely new concepts built on the foundation of love and compassion ….. not just for the Father, but for the human race as a whole. He reached out to the poor and down-trodden, as well as the lame and the sick in an effort to heal and bring them back into God’s fold. During his famed Sermon on the Mount, he spoke in favor of the meek and of those who mourn, as well as the poor in spirit, and those who thirst for righteousness. He taught us to be merciful and pure of heart, to be peacemakers and to stand up for His name even when it may feel unwise and unpopular to do so. He boldly identified corruption at its source and was willing to die so that we may enjoy our lives with the hope of eternal salvation.

In today’s world where it has become fashionable to criticize and ridicule in an attempt to gain power and headlines, it takes a person of certain conviction and courage to turn the other cheek. Capitalism and the ongoing quest to gain the upper hand naturally breed the kind of abhorrence exemplified by Herod and Caiaphas, but those among us who conceptualize and are led to care about that which is greater themselves will continue to ‘fight the good fight’ believing in a world that warrants the return of our beloved savior. As human beings we cannot help but be both pagans and sinners as we toil through this life in search of meaning and some form of escape, but as I continue to bid good cheer in the face of my daily struggles I shall always remain on the side of the Rebel Jesus.