Christmas is a reminder of all the wonderful things God has given us – and a reminder to appreciate them
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COLUMN: Food for Thought by Rev John Sterrett
Ebeneezer Scrooge was visited by ghosts at Christmas. They reminded him of important things he’d forgotten about during Christmases he’d spent in his life – past, present and future.
The ghosts took him places. He was escorted back in time and reminded of happy times when he was younger, dancing at Christmas parties.
He was privileged to be made an invisible witness to conversations going on behind closed doors presently among those he knew that very Christmas.
And he was made to witness the tragic things that were to happen in future Christmases if events were allowed to overtake him unchanged.
The same kind of visitation happened to Mary, then to Joseph and finally to the shepherds and wise men in the Bible – only the visitors were not ghosts, but they were angels. Still, those being visited were scared out of their wits. That’s why angel visitations are so infrequent. They are scary both because of our unfamiliarity with angels, but also because of the things an angel might show us.
What if angels visited you this Christmas? What do you think they might show you? Think about your life and how you live it. Would they remind you about some problem left unaddressed in your life, which, if it remains as it is at the moment, will profoundly affect your future Christmases – and the Christmases of others?
Will they show you a relationship that is broken, or at breaking point, and needs your attention? Will they show you a financial problem that needs addressing? Will they show you something you have been neglecting and the state of it once it is beyond your ability to do anything about it? Will they show you someone you have been ignoring and what will happen to that person, and even to you, if you continue your ignorance?
Or, perhaps they will show you an ability you have or even a calling to do something wonderful but which, because of your procrastination, or because of your hesitation to take on responsibility, or because of your lack of self-belief, or your lack of trust in God, or a combination of all these, you are avoiding.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who take what angels show them seriously (whether they actually witness the angels themselves or not) and those who, tragically, do not.
The latter group can only change life if they experience its brutal consequences. The former group realise the mistakes they’ve made, or the fears they have and see the second chance that God is handing them – and take it. Which kind of person are you?
Christmas is a reminder of all the wonderful things God has given us, and a reminder to appreciate them. Don’t let the busyness of the season, or your weariness with Christmas carols, or the fact that we do this every year, put you off what God is saying.
We are forgetful. We get distracted. We need reminding. That’s why all this happens again and again every year. That’s why God asks us to do things repeatedly sometimes. That’s why Jesus said “do this in remembrance of me.” (Corinthians 11:24).
Are you hearing the voice of God speaking to you? Do you need an angel, or more drastic consequences, to wake you up?
Rev John Sterrett is minister of St Andrew’s Church, Golspie.
