My family
enjoys a gift exchange at Christmas time. Presents are carefully chosen and
wrapped in beautiful paper. At the appointed time, all the gifts are placed on
the floor in the middle of the living room, as everyone gathers around. There
are no gift tags attached to the gifts however. Instead, we each draw a number
from a basket. Beginning with the person who drew the lowest number, we choose
a gift from the pile to unwrap. Those with higher numbers can choose to “steal”
someone else’s already opened present, if they wish. It’s great fun because the
gifts are often surprising, occasionally creative, and always inexpensive. In
fact, they usually consist of things stuffed away in a basement cupboard that
the owner no longer wants. A common term to describe this type of gift exchange
is called a White Elephant Gift Exchange.
This year’s gifts included a smiley face coffee mug, a puzzle, a mini crock
pot, a gaudy Christmas village building, and – the most creative – an emergency
candy bar.
What
intrigues me most about our gift exchange is the giftwrap. The way the gift is
wrapped sometimes provides a clue as to what the gift is (coffee mug), but
often a gift is placed in a larger box or a beautiful bag and there is no way
to determine what the gift might be by looking at the way it is wrapped. In
fact, the recipient is usually quite surprised (and not so happy!) when they
open a gift that has been beautifully wrapped. Just as you can’t judge a book
by it’s cover, you can’t always judge the value of a gift by it’s packaging.
Thinking
about the way we wrap presents for people reminds me of the ways the Christmas
message is sometimes packaged. The difference is that, although the packaging
may differ, the message of Christmas is invaluable. I attended two different
Christmas Eve church services this year. Both consisted of music, candles, scripture
reading, and a Christmas message. But they were packaged quite differently.
The first
service was quite casual. It began with the praise team’s presentation of
Christmas music, along with coordinated spotlights, providing a contemporary
concert-type atmosphere. A short movie showed the Christmas story read by two
young children (with precious voice expression), and the four-part message was centered
around the Advent candles. At the end of the service the Christ candle was lit,
and then we all took turns lighting our own candles from the Christ candle. It
was a beautiful image – the Christ candle (Jesus is the light of the world) and
an auditorium filled with glittering candles, showing our prayer to be light to
our world.
The
second service I attended was more formal and liturgical. It was organized in
five sections, each based on a song (canticle) from scripture. The service
began with music by organ, handbells, flute, cello, French horn, and oboe,
which set the mood for the sevice. Choir anthems and congregational singing
were a part of each section, along with scripture read by congregation members.
The Christ candle was also lit at the end of the service. What stirred me most
at this service was the music – the resplendent organ and the joyful singing,
reminding us of the joy of Christmas.
There are
many ways a church (or other group) will decide to “package” the Christmas
story. Whether casual or elegant, using old hymns or contemporary songs, displaying
candles or pageantry – these are all just wrapping paper. The actual gift is
the same, and it’s a gift from God. The good news, and the gift, is that:
“…a Savior has been born to you,
he is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2:11)
No matter
how we choose to wrap it, this is the true gift of Christmas. And, like the gifts my family opened, it is surprising. Surprising that God would leave heaven and come to Earth. It is also creative - who could ever have predicted the amazing way God chose to bring about His plan for our salvation. But it is certainly not inexpensive. This gift cost Jesus his life; it is the most expensive gift ever given. It is no "white elephant" gift. God knew the exactly what we needed; this gift is perfectly designed for everyone who receives it. It is the absolutely best gift.
Thank you Jesus.
Merry Christmas!
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