Our greeting in church suggested we exchange the cynical “Humbug!” of our frenzied culture with a return to childlike wonder?  The reruns of holiday movies like “A Christmas Carol” or “Miracle on 34th Street” show us children who melt the hearts of hardened adults and offer new hope in life – unlike the smart-mouthed youngsters of today’s television.  Reviving the innocence and wonder of childhood would open us to hearing God’s own surprising story.  Children live so naturally before they learn to follow all the adult rules.    They are unpredictable, surprising – even startling.  When questions are asked and inviting the children to respond – you never know what to expect.  Their answers often reveal God to  us, and we learn to listen to those different from us who carry a message from God.

It’s not easy daring to be different, especially in this holiday season.  Powerful consumer forces urge us to be the “same” – to buy the toy, the perfume, the gadget that everyone is going to get for Christmas.  We must bolster the “consumer confidence” in this struggling economy by spending a lot of money.  But what will we do to bolster our confidence in God this Christmas?

We could dare to be different.  Christmas joy this year might be found in adopting a needy family, donating to your church, hammering a nail for Habitat for Humanity, or helping out at the free clinics.  We could mend an old hurt or forgive someone who has offended us or lend comfort to those in need.  How can we be different in the mall, at the office party, on the highway, with our families and friends?  Will we be moved to wonder at His glory?

kommonsentsjane