Christians I know, around this time of year, are immersed in the spirit of the season. Most Christian houses of worship really get cooking around this time of year. My old church was great at stirring up emotions this time of year. They had a phenomenal pageant, top-notch music, and plenty of opportunities to engage in community. Yes, they were good at ambiance, but they were REALLY good at content. Year after year, I would hang on every yuletide message. Over and over again, I was educated on the true meaning of Christmas. The people of Israel were groaning under the chains of bondage. They were begging in their prayers to God for a warrior to free them and avenge them. But, evidently, God said something to the effect of, “I don’t think so, Tim.” Extra credit if you get that ’90s reference. The Savior King to avenge and free His people did not come with a sword. He came with nothing. He came with love.
The juxtaposition of this phenomenally heart-warming take on this time of year against the most recent election cycle, well, any elections cycle really, is truly fascinating. A large portion of the people who just voted for the triumphant individual, call themselves Christians. They believe that when they were begging most for vengeance, retribution, and war, God chose to instead send them a baby to live the same human experience as everyone else, perfectly. That means without war, without vengeance, without selfishness, without hate, without retribution, and without malice. They believe their Savior was sent by God to show them how to live.
This particular election cycle revealed to me that, for the aforementioned self-identifying Christians, they not only don’t live like their Savior, but they actively continue to beg for the complete opposite of what the God they believe in said was right.
This was both fascinating and crushing to realize.
As with most things, I can only control my actions and my reactions. When I’m scared for how people are choosing to behave, I can try to write about it. I can try to make some sort of impact on someone by sharing my perspective; my creativity. Who knows? Maybe it will matter someday, somehow, to someone.
What can you write about that might make a difference for someone?
How can you write it so people will accept it?
Internalize it?
Feel it?
Feel it. You feel it first. You can make it real.
Sparks 