In a few weeks’ time, in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars is set to return to our cinema screens, and as a rather large nerd I am understandably very excited. Already my friends have been discussing how you prepare for such a momentous occasion, debates over how many times, and in what order you should re-watch the original films and if at all in Episode one’s case. I am thoroughly enjoying all the excitement, and am eager to see the next stage of the saga on the big screen, but I found myself thinking about preparation for Christmas as much as thinking about how I personally plan to prepare for seeing the new film.
You see I love Christmas, I love the time of year, I love the feel of the season. I love the food and friends and I love the chance to remember what a big deal it was that God entered our world for me all those years ago. But pre-December or at least late November, I can be a bit of a Grinch, I always can’t believe how early the Christmas adverts start on TV, how quickly the shops jump on the bandwagon and wonder why on earth anyone needs to buy Christmas Crackers in late October. However, as I eagerly prepared for the nerd event of the year I realised I had started to prepare for Christmas, practically at least. I have bought my first gift and the budgeting is in place for the season as a whole and the holiday and family-sharing time has been decided.
However my spiritual preparation for the season was seriously lacking, and I realised, was I seriously worried if I started too early I would run out of wonder for the son of God entering our world and my life. I do this every year, in fact sometimes the spiritual component, the whole reason for Christmas is the last thing I start preparing for, so I decided it was time to start.
Time to start reading the prophecies and Gospel accounts, time to start incorporating wonder and worship into my prayer life, for what started over 2000 years ago. Time to start being lost in wonder at and listening to carols, maybe not all the carols, but the ones that speak into the depth of my heart and awaken in me the wonder at the love of God shown through sending his son, the songs that make it a reality, not just a story.
So this is less of a thought and more of an invite, by now everyone is preparing for Christmas as a holiday, and while the rush does start early, as a church maybe we can start preparing our hearts early as well so Christmas is about more than the gifts, more than the family, more than the successful budgeting, more than the food or even more than the return of Star Wars (gasp) but to us is about our God and his willingness to enter into our world to save us for him.
Tim Holt
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