as I was checking out at the grocery store today, the clerk casually asked me if I was ready for Christmas to be over. I told her i didn't really know if i was ready for it to be over, but that I was for sure ready for it to get here. we talked about how quickly Christmas comes and goes, and how it's always over a little too fast. at that point in the conversation, the young man who was bagging the groceries spoke up and said, "yeah, Christmas just doesn't make any sense." his words and the sad tone in which they were spoken kind of killed the conversation. I don't think either of us really knew how to respond. and as I walked to the car, I somehow knew in a way, he was right. it makes no sense.
all the anticipation. all the work. all the hustle and bustle, the decoration and preparation, the cooking, the cleaning, the traveling, the shopping, the wrapping. and then before you know it, Christmas day arrives, and all too quickly, it's over. presents unwrapped, suspense spoiled. families scatter, lights come down, trash is taken out, and people go back to "normal" life. and then disappointment settles in.
I mean, I feel very blessed to have so many amazing memories of Christmases growing up. so many presents, so many fun times with family and friends. and they're even better now that I get to watch my own kids and their joy in the celebrations. but they always come to an end, and in the end, there is always a sense of disappointment. like, "is that all?" no matter how many gifts I got as a kid, I was always hoping there was one more under the tree. no matter how much fun I had, I was never ready for it to be over. as great as it was, it was never quite what I had hoped for. so if Christmas is nothing more than a moment, it truly doesn't make any sense. if Christmas is nothing more than toys that tarnish, food that spoils, feelings that fade, and experiences that end, it truly does not make any sense. if it only leaves us empty, then what's it all for?
it makes me wonder how Mary must have felt after the star faded, the shepherds returned home, and the frankincense and myrhh lost their scent. she must have wondered where all the glory went during those weary midnight feedings. all of creation had waited for thousands of years for Word to become flesh. and then the moment came. Jesus made his entrance into this world through the womb of a teenage girl. there was a star for decoration, a glorious announcement from some angels, the hustle and bustle of some shepherds, a few gifts from some traveling wise men, it was indeed a glorious moment, and then it was over. and then life went back to business as usual.
and i wonder how the disciples felt years later when their conqueror was crucified. they must have wondered, "is that all?" i mean i'm sure his death wasn't quite what they had hoped for. if Jesus was simply born as a baby to die as a man, it leaves us wondering, "is that all?"
so Christmas doesn't make any sense. unless it comes again.
and it will indeed come again. He will indeed come again. there will be another glorious moment. except this moment will last for eternity. the waiting will be over, and fulfillment will come, and His name is Jesus. this is the promise. this is our hope. this is the advent of our King.
