So far I have been
reflecting on how we might go about making room for Jesus at the centre of our
lives through Advent, using the everyday spaces and furniture of our
lives. But we can also do so through
making seasonal-specific changes to our homes, by introducing things into rooms
that we will pack away, and bring out again year after year.
On a particular day in
Advent, we decorate our Christmas tree. In past years, this has involved
bringing a real tree indoors. Out of place – like a baby occupying a manger.
This year we bought an artificial tree; but it is nonetheless out of place in
the bay window of our living room.
Our Christmas tree
decorations tell one story, and write another.
They tell the story of
Christmas past: olivewood manger scenes; needlework wise men; china Santa
Clauses (St Nicholas, a Christian bishop, who threw three bags of gold coins
through the window to redeem three daughters of an impoverished widower from
having to go into slavery, and so both acted-out the story of Christmas and
gave origin to the tradition of giving gifts); wooden gift boxes; glass angels;
trumpets; stars; sheep...
And they tell the story
of Christmas future: for each of our children receive a Christmas tree
decoration as a special gift from their godparents
each year, which will build up into a collection for them when they leave home
and have a tree of their own.
One of the things that
I have learned from the parents of now-grown-up-children is the significance of
building special family traditions around Christmas. These have created space for the story to go
on being told and celebrated in their lives, whether they choose to be actively
involved in a faith community throughout the year or not; and created a social
glue that binds the family together as a relational group even after children
have left home.
I don’t especially want
you to adopt our traditions, but to create your own, that work for you, and to
celebrate them.
When Christmas comes to
an end, and the tree is taken out of the living room, the room feels bigger
than it was. By adding something into
the space, living with it for a while, and then experiencing its removal –
like adding Mary and
Joseph and Jesus to a family home, including the animals, that had already filled
its guest room, and living with them for several months and possibly up to two
years before they left –
we have the opportunity
to reflect on what we have but sometimes fail to notice, use to God’s glory,
and give thanks for.
Advent:
making room for Jesus – on the Christmas tree.
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