It is a real challenge to find anyone who says that they do not like the Christmas holiday. When separated from the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping and traveling, Christians and non-Christians alike can seem to agree that the winter festival is among their favorite times of the year. For most, it is a time to come together with family and friends, with large meals, many gifts, boisterous parties and general merriment. It is difficult to not get wrapped up in the joy of the holiday, regardless of your religious stripes.
But that is not my favorite part of Christmas.
I like the quiet and stillness of the winter evening. The parties and fun are good, but I feel most at peace with the rest of the world with soft music in the background and huddled up on the couch with nothing but the Christmas tree lighting the room. It is during that time that I seem to always have the clearest of perspective on the past year and the most eagerness for the year to come.
There would be instrumental music playing softly in the background. I would have my wife resting next to me, with neither of us reaching for our iPod, iPhone or laptop. If I had a home with a fireplace, it would be burning bright, with the cards from friends and family lining the mantle. There would be a light dusting of snowfall outside, blanketing the neighborhood. That would be my idea of the ideal Christmas Eve.
At least, for now.
Jesus did not arrive into this world to a lot of fanfare. It said that it was a very quiet and still night in Bethlehem, mostly because even in those times the notion of awaking a sleeping infant would not have been advisable. It is a stretch to even imagine the serenity of that evening.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009.