Christmas?

It doesn’t feel like Christmas.

It’s not just the balmy island climate,

but there are none of the usual

preparations to ground me.

Decorating the house is simple:

a favorite crèche, slender Advent candles

and a handful of tree ornaments nestled

among the conch shells.

There’s no turkey in the freezer

or fresh pumpkin to make pie –

we may eat some of those things

as guests in others’ gracious homes,

but the holiday cooking will not be in our kitchen.

We did all our Christmas shopping in October

and left gifts for children and grandchildren

we can barely remember!

For each other

several small purchases at an island shop

are all that need wrapping.

The advent weeks have passed

with so little to do for the holy day

that it doesn’t really feel

like Christmas.

And yet it is!

Christ has come.

Christ is coming.

And the hope of the world is renewed.

We went to a candlelight service last evening

and were grateful for the story, the children, the light.

We’ll have Christmas Eve supper

with the pastor and her husband

and help them host local carolers

(tomorrow I’ll make fudge to bring for them).

We’ll enjoy a turkey and all the trimmings

with a local church family who have been

most kind to include us in their Christmas dinner.

And we’ll videochat with Denver and New York

(more than once, I hope)

and see bright Christmas trees and trains

in familiar homes made festive red and green.

We’ll take part from a distance

in our grandchildren’s excitement,

the exchanging of gifts,

the wrapping paper chaos,

the pajamas and the Christmas ties and dresses,

the family tables laden with holiday feasts.

We are indeed blessed

to celebrate such a Christmas!

Christ has come.

Christ is coming.

And the hope of the world is once again made new.

sunday, 20 december

advent 2015
Penns Landing