Don't Panic!

There are only 113 days left to Christmas! You still have plenty of time. I am pretty much nearly done with the preliminary organization. I've done my present list and purchased most of the un-consumable ones, the card list is taking shape, and I'm doing a combination of handmade-by-the-girls and christian charity cards. I've started experimenting with some new Mince pie recipes, and yes, this afternoon we had a mince pie with a cup of tea (I wasn't happy with the shortcrust, to be honest, it needs work).

I am well known by most of my friends to be a big fan of Christmas. Some of it is an outworking of my interest in Victoriana. My two favourite periods of history are the Victorian era and the 1930's. The traditional Christmas was a fairly big deal in both those eras in one form or another.

But there is obviously, a bigger reason for me, as a Christian believer. There are many things in scripture that thrill me, but one of my very favourite passages is Luke 2:8-20.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I don't know about you, but I think that is one exciting story. The Shepherds were part of the lowliest class in biblical times. They were mistrusted for all sorts of reasons. The kind of people you'd feel a bit nervous around if you were respectable. Perhaps like travelling gypsies are mistrusted in our society.

And angels appeared to them to announce that the Most High God had been born a man. Angels. The glory of the Lord. Appearing to scum. Isn't that great?!

And what does the angel of the Lord say, exactly? The 'hoodies' of the day are told that the Most High God has come for them. And not in judgement, but as a Saviour.

But my very most favourite bit? The angel says that the sign to them that the Most High, Almighty, perfectly Holy God has come to them, is that they will find a little baby wrapped in a bit of cloth and lying in an animals trough.

That's the most awe-inspiring message that Christianity gives to the world, and what sets it apart from all the other systems we've devised for ourselves to be 'good enough', be it through religion or mens approval.

God is born in poverty, and the only people who know about it are the people who will listen to the unlikely stories of those who are considered scum. God comes down to the lowest of the low and gives them everything they need to believe and be saved.

Yes, I'm a bit of a loon for being so mad about Christmas. I listen to Christmas carols every month of the year, but I listen to Easter hymns at Christmas, too. There is nothing on earth that excites me more than this message of astonishing redemption. You can put it off if you want to, and keep the Advent of the Holy One for a once a year feast if you will. But I know I'm scum with the Shepherds, and I know He has come to me, and I can't possibly keep from singing "Gloria, in excelsis Deo!"