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Over the
years we all have heard people attempt to define the real meaning of Christmas.
Yet, the meaning of Christmas is so deep and so personal words truly fail when
we try to get at the root of this celebration. That does not mean we do not make
an effort to explain the truly unexplainable. Thus: A friend of mine sent me a story that reminded me about the
meaning of Christmas, or at least one of the many meanings of Christmas – it
being quite difficult to make the meaning of Christmas so concise. In truth the
story has nothing to do with Christmas and yet it has everything to do with the
meaning of Christmas. The story is about two brothers who lived on adjoining
properties but who were at odds with each so much so that one brother brought in
a bulldozer to create a creek between their properties. The other brother
decided to do the other one better by hiring a carpenter, who providentially
appeared on the scene, to build an eight-foot fence alongside the creek so that
he would see neither his brother’s face nor his place anymore. Both brothers were away for the day. The carpenter worked all
day on into sunset and built not a fence but a bridge spanning the creek. When
the brothers returned to their homes that evening, they were shocked, especially
the creek builder who, before his brother could utter a word, crossed the
bridge, extended his hand in friendship and praised his brother for such an act
of brotherhood. When the carpenter turned to leave, both brothers asked him to
stay as they had more work for him. The carpenter thanked them but said he had
to go as he had more bridges to build. Christmas,
in more ways than one, is the celebration of the birth of The Carpenter among
us. Jesus came to build bridges where humanity has built creeks and walls and
fences. Jesus came to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters one to
another no matter who we are, where we live, the color of our skin or anything
else that might differentiate us one from another. We are all God’s children
and nothing we say or do will ever change that, creeks, rivers and oceans, walls
and fences notwithstanding. Christmas and our Christian faith is all about building
bridges where there are fences, building bridges where there is a gulf.
Christmas is about bringing us back together where we have drifted apart.
Christmas is about being the first one to cross to the other side to bring
reconciliation and peace. Christmas is about being willing and daring to build
the bridge and take the first step. Merry
Christmas
WJP |