November 4, 2008
Lighten up! It’s Christmas~
It’s already November. I am very close to celebrating my sixth Aussie Christmas. Down under, Christmas is never white. It’s hot. Yes, we have the Christmas lights draping some suburbs like Ivanhoe and of course, the CBD, but it doesn’t feel like the typical Christmas that we have in mind [and Hollywood sells], where the snow is supposed to be falling outside, covering the ground, people sitting by the fireplace around the Christmas tree, opening up their presents, children squealing with joy when they find the long-wanted Barbie doll or newest model of toy car in their huge boxes. A time for family, blinking lights and wrapping papers.
Christmas back at home is also, hmmm, how to put it… unconventional? December 25 is a very important date in my dad’s family, not because it is Jesus’ birthday, but because it is my grandma’s. So, we will gather at my grandma’s house every year, eating dishes together around a huge round table like a good Chinese family does and celebrate. Moreover, it’s public holiday for everyone so the family uses the opportunity to catch up with each other, including me and my cousins, who will chat away, gossiping and talking about our favourite topic: boys.
But, being a Christian, it brought me thinking…
…are those all there is to Christmas?
How about Jesus?
How dare we forget about him?
I am not saying media’s depiction of Christmas is entirely wrong. Love and family are important, but, think with me for a moment. You don’t have to wait till Christmas to love someone or to be with your family. So what is Christmas for?
The word Christmas itself, originated from Christ’s mass, literally means as a mass or service for Christ. How did it turned out to be a commercial holiday, I don’t know, and I don’t care. What I do care is people must come back to the true meaning of Christmas, which has been long forgotten.
I shall brave myself to say… it’s an evidence of how our eyes, including mine, have been so blinded by the darkness of this world. We have been living in a world void of light to the point that we can’t even remember what a light is. So, JC came down to this world and “called you [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9b), because we wouldn’t be able to do it by ourselves. And the day when this Saviour was born, that is Christmas.
Christmas is the time we are supposed to be celebrating the arrival of light into this dark world. The origin of Christmas lights that are adorning cities around the world at this very moment is this very concept of JC as the Light of the World. Sadly, though, we remember more of the lovely shiny and sparkly lights than the more beautiful JC himself.
How sad it is to be happy about Christmas, for the wrong reasons.
Who would you celebrate this Christmas?
It’s never too late to re-learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Written by Allie
October 31, 2008
Go Light Your World
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Light of the World 