There's Nothing Magical About Christmas

I like Christmas, I really do. I like the music, the decorations, finding a meaningful gift and time with friends and family.

It's a good thing too, because my wife Kathy REALLY likes Christmas. She starts decorating as soon as Halloween is over, and our house gets a seasonal makeover, and our retail store has 11 Christmas trees!

I know, right!

There is so much to love about this time of year, and I really do, almost as much as Kathy.

But there's nothing magical about it.

I know you hear this sentiment on a regular basis...movies and commercials are littered with statements, like "Enjoy the magic of the season."

But magic is actually more like, sleight of hand, mis-direction and illusion.

So, for me, I don't agree that Christmas is magical.

Supernatural? Yes!

Magical? Not so much.

I get it. We've romanticized the season and I agree there is something uniquely special about this time of year. Just compare Halloween decorations to Christmas. For me, there isn't any.

Bt what if those special feelings you feel, are really more about what God has written on your heart. After all the Bible says we are created in God's image. In part at least, I think we have a sense that God exists and accessible, and Christmas is certainly all about that.

Immanuel...God with us. Jesus came in the form of a baby to live among us. Now, you may be an agnostic or even an atheist, which to me means you just try harder to ignore what you know to be true, even if you've tucked it away, in the darkest part of your soul.

But there is something different about Christmas.

Christmas is About Easter

Over the years our tree topper has been a number of things, including a star and an angel, but for the past 15 years or so, we place a crown of thorns at the top of our tree. And every night, before I turn in, I look at the tree and the crown, that serves as a reminder of what Christmas is really about.

It's not really about tinsel (does anyone use that anymore?) or turkey or office parties. It's part of the story of God showing up in human history; not to give us a cute story to celebrate each December 25 (Jesus was probably born in the Spring). But Jesus lived among us, gave us an example to follow, then laid down His life for you and me, so we can have a personal relationship with the One who created us in the first place...for that very reason.

So go ahead, and enjoy the music, your favourite movie and family traditions.

But don't let those things distract you from God's arrival and Jesus' life of sacrifice and reconciliation.

It's not magic...it's a God thing...it's supernatural!

Merry Christmas!