Pageants. Parties. Shopping. Baking. Wrapping. Travel. At every turn there are people to see, things to do, stuff to buy. The hustle and bustle of this supposed-to-be-happy season can knock the holly-jolly right out of our holidays and replace it with hurried-up headaches instead. As a result, our calendars become overloaded, crowding out the spiritual significance of the season.
There was hurry present the night of Jesus birth as well. However, it wasn't to the mall or grocery store. The shepherds were working in the fields when suddenly an ensemble of angels told them the Christ Child had been born. Luke 2:16 says they “hurried off to find Him lying in a manger.” If I had been one of those shepherds, I would have been quiet and amazed once I got there. In the presence of Jesus I wonder if those men too were settled and silent. Maybe we could do the same today. In the midst of our holiday hustle, we could stop. We could put our activities on hold so we might quietly meet with our Lord.
As a result we just might discover an unhurried holiday: a season that will strengthen us spiritually instead of sapping our energy and joy. Will we pause and purpose to hurry into the presence of the one the holiday is really all about, instead of rushing from task to task? The tasks will wait while we do.
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