Christmas moves. It moves from angels to Mary and Joseph. It's a journey of a couple not only to Bethlehem but then to Egypt and back home to Nazareth. The Son of God moves into the world and changes it forever.
It's not enough for the story to stop with a simple nativity and a picture or two in the Bible. That's something for a museum or china cabinet. We can't merely tour the site where Jesus was born to experience Christmas. The wonder of Christmas moves home. In every corner of the globe, Christmas is expressed uniquely in cultures. The Christ child goes home with people who express the story in their own way. It doesn't change the message or the meaning, but it adds to the heritage of our faith.
What would Christmas be without "Silent Night, Holy Night." We have the Germans to thank for it. What would Christmas be without "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing?" We thanks to Charles Wesley in Great Britain for that. Poinsettias were imported from Mexico. Christmas trees began with Martin Luther, and on and on we could go.
Where will Christmas take you this season? How will you express the story in your way? If you're like me, most of the surprises are discovered along the way.
This is a great reminder that God loves the whole world, and Christians should embrace people from cultures around the world not only at this special time, but also every day. Over time we've adopted traditions as our own regardless of their cultural origins. Especially as Christians, shouldn't we fully accept people who are different from us every day? Sadly, some remain willfully blind, refusing to acknowledge the message that God doesn't see the outer cloaks of ethnicity we wear and we must not either. Enjoy your Christmas and all the multicultural expressions of God's love at this time!
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