A Christmas Reflection
Christmas 2020
So here we are
Christmas 2020
After a year of COVID-19
Which has reshaped our lives
And for some
Too many
Their hopes and dreams for the future
A year that has left us at best
feeling
that whole Christmas thing
just seems a little bit harder this year
amidst the weariness
and grief and guilt – for some
but there it is
and here we are.
This little piece of RNA
this scrap of genetic material
that needs a host to be alive
Has changed our world
For better and for worse
We have watched the bumbling of so
many governments around the world
With so many paying the price with
their health
Their mental health
Their lives.
We have seen economies suffer
And so many, women in particular out
of work
Struggling to pay the bills.
And we have seen so many live
sacrificially for others
Medical people around the world
Those in essential services working
on despite the risk
We saw neighbours looking out for
each other
And an astounding rise community spirit
With many social service agencies and
groups
Working hard to ensure all had
housing, food
And the support and care they needed
And so many giving generously to those
groups and agencies.
We have found new ways of working
New ways of connecting with friends
and family
Here in Tauranga
In Aotearoa
And around the world.
This little virus,
This scrap of RNA
Has changed so much.
What a great metaphor for what we here
to celebrate today
This baby born long ago
In a far off place
To unimportant parents
Growing up in a very unremarkable
village
Has also changed so much
Continues to change so much.
We are here to celebrate God’s moment
of intrusion in our world
An intrusion of hope
that has and continues to gently reshape our world.
Some questions
· How are you really this Christmas? Be honest
· What, if anything, are you grateful for this Christmas?
· Who are people you are concerned for this Christmas?
· What difference does Christmas make in all this?
REJOICE
just seems a little bit
harder this year
amidst the weariness
and grief and such
but there it is
a baby born
a sign of hope
a moment of intrusion
can I let that joy in
for a bit
to gently reshape
my looking at life
can I be a comma
of joy to another
that we might rejoice
together
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