The Starting Point

December 24, 2014
Day 238

Jonah Cord loved Christmas.  Each year, he bought gifts for all his family and friends, and often donated his time and money to local charities, spreading all the goodness he could.  He was well known in the community, and a highly respected member of his church family too.

One Christmas, Jonah decided to take things to another level.  He decided he'd spend the entire three weeks before Christmas reminding people every chance he got that Jesus was the reason for the season, that the baby Jesus, and not Santa, should be the true focus of everyone's attention.  So he changed the signature on all his e-mails right away to read, "Jesus is the ONLY reason for this solemn season!"  He also made a point to share something about the baby Jesus to his Facebook account each day, and even opened up a new Twitter account just so he could reply to popular Tweets with Christian messages.

Every chance he got, Jonah spread his special message, but the more he did, the more frustrated he got at the constant barrage of Santa Claus images on TV and at the mall.  Everywhere he looked, people were celebrating the non-religious part of the holiday, and turning their backs on Jesus.

Jonah began to get angry and sad at the same time, and by the week before Christmas, his posts online and messages to friends were growing more and more forceful, and less and less friendly.  Before he realized it, and really without knowing what he was doing at all, Jonah was spreading more animosity than he was joy, and his desire to spread God's love was failing miserably.  Still, he stuck to his game plan, and only increased his work the closer Christmas came.

By Christmas Eve, Jonah was very sad.  He felt he'd only reached his fellow Christians, and hardly made any impact at all on the rest of the community.  Just hours left now before Christmas, a frazzled Jonah was handing out flyers he'd made up to share with people around the mall.  Many pocketed the flyers politely, and others just threw them out nearby, but Jonah noticed one woman walked off to the side, and was thoroughly reading the message he'd typed up.

After another minute, this woman approached him with a smile.  Jonah said a polite hello, but kept scanning the passing crowd for new people to hand his flyers to.  "You know," the woman said, "I like to think Jesus would really love all the Christmas we have right now, and not be asking people to only think of him."  Oh boy, Jonah thought, here we go.  "I mean, Christmas is such a beautiful time of year filled with love and joy, gift exchanges, and so much wonderful time with our families."

Jonah had heard enough.  "Jesus is the reason for the season, and people need that reminder.  I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't think you understand what I'm trying to do here."  The woman just smiled and said, "Of course I do.  It's just that you're missing the whole point of Christmas in the pursuit of a history lesson.  Jesus preached love and friendship, forgiveness and compassion.  He spent most of his time sitting with friends and neighbors, having wine and just talking--not passing judgment."

Shaking his head quickly, Jonah opened his mouth to speak, but the woman continued, "Jesus is the reason for the season, but the season surpassed the reason, and Jesus would be thrilled!  Christmas can be great even when Jesus isn't at the center of it all, because the reason for the season isn't alive on Earth right now.  Your family members are.  Your friends are.  Your coworkers are.  Your neighbors are.  Love them, Jonah, and celebrate all of Christmas with them, the sacred and the fun, and if you do that, you'll be honoring Jesus just fine."

Jonah looked at her funny and said, "How do you know my name?"  The woman smiled and said, "I'm your neighbor.  I've tried to stop by to say hello, but you haven't been at home."  "Oh," Jonah said, "Well, I've been a bit distracted lately."

He mindlessly began handing the flyers out again, but kept an eye on the woman, who now stood right up close to him so he couldn't avoid her.  "I'm your neighbor, Jonah.  I'm standing right here in front of you.  And instead of welcoming me, you're trying to prove your love of God.  You know who else did that?  The Pharisees.  Jesus was right there in front of their faces, and all they cared about was Scripture.  Jesus is the reason for the season, Jonah, but reasons are just starting points.  Look around you," she said, gently taking the remainder of his flyers and pointing behind him, "And see what's right in front of your face."

Jonah looked around him at the shoppers passing by.  He saw all the happiness on their faces, noted so many decorations of all shapes and sizes adorning the atrium, and listened as Christmas music softly played throughout the mall.  All around him, Jonah saw only love and joy.  And when he turned back around, his visitor--and the flyers--were gone.