Merry Christmas 2011

After three Christmases away from the home routines we would much rather be a part of, we are beginning to appreciate what celebrating Holidays abroad can be (“appreciate” certainly does not mean “prefer”).

 

Holidays in general are weird. No fireworks on the 4^th, no turkey on Thanksgiving and no “Robin Eggs” at Easter time. Christmas, is probably the most unique. Ethiopians celebrate Christmas, but according to their calendar, it lands on Jan 7^th. Therefore, December 25^th is just another day in the society as a whole. Contrast that to the culture back home where everything seems to direct our attention to the holiday season. Imagine a Christmas without non-stop carols on the radio, without holiday commercials on TV, without decorations on lampposts, without Christmas lights, without snow, Santa, shopping, or candy canes. I think it is the Christmas once hoped for by the tiny-hearted Grinch.

 

But, like the classic cartoon, the Grinch could take away all of the “things” that make Christmas Christmas, but he couldn’t take the Holiday out of our little ‘who’ hearts over here in ‘who-ville.’ So what do we do to make the Holiday meaningful? Well, it’s been a bit different every year but one thing stays the same – gathering with friends.

 

This past Thursday evening, we were invited out to the home of some of our very best friends. Along with 6 or 7 other families, we had a great time singing Christmas carols, reading portions of the Christmas story and sitting in front of a roaring fireplace (a rarity here in Ethiopia). There were plenty of Christmas goodies and gourmet hot chocolate to top off an excellent celebration in the company of friends.

 

As I write we’re driving from the capital to our home among the Gmz. Why spend all of Christmas Eve on the road? It’s the same principle as above. We look forward to a Christmas feast with some of our closest friends in Ethiopia – the two other families living and working among the Gmz in our area. If we can’t be with our real family during these special times, we must do our best to be with the closest thing we can find. So that without snow or Christmas lights or 24 hour “A Christmas Story” marathons on TV, we can still allow our hearts to express the joy of the Holiday with others as together, we celebrate our Savior’s first coming while at the same time anticipate his second coming to take his own home! It’s during seasons like this one, that the idea of “going home” burns like a hot coal in our stockings.