It’s the middle of October, and already I have spied decorated Christmas trees in stores. Our culture seems to have defined October through December as one on-going holiday season. To some, this may excite us with anticipation, while others feel that it is season of commercialism. But what many of us in the Living Stones family are learning is that the holiday season creates unique opportunities to love our neighbors.
October 31st--Whether you call it Halloween, Harvest Day or Reformation Day, there are some unique and redeemable opportunities within this holiday that many Christians understandably distance themselves from. There is no other day of the year when almost all of your neighbors are roaming around your neighborhood and even knocking on your door. How can we use this cultural rhythm to live out the two greatest commands of loving God and loving others? Justice in the Burbs, a book that some of the women in our church were discussing, talks of the importance of loving our neighbors whether in the city or the suburbs, wherever God has placed us. In the book, followers of Jesus loved their neighbors by serving trick-or-treating parents chili in their front yard, providing a place for conversation, replenishment and rest. Some Living Stones members will be creating these connection points of care on the 31st in their neighborhoods.
Thanksgiving--While many people get together with there loved ones on this day, many others don’t have the resources or the opportunity to dine with family. Who are those people who won’t be across the table from loved ones this Thanksgiving? College students, singles, divorcees, recent transplants, immigrants, people in the retail and service industry--I'm sure you can think of some your life brushes up against. All can be welcomed to the table.
Christmas--While many acts of love are performed during the “Christmas Season”. Christmas Day itself often sees a lull in these acts of service. December 25th is another clear time when people reflect on what relationships they have or wish they did. Last Christmas Day, we had visited a group home of children in foster care. The children living at the home who had families were off visiting them. Those who were at the group home on Christmas Day were the most relationally poor. So we had the opportunity to celebrate the greatest gift with a simple but powerful act that we posted about previously.
Have you prayed about how God may be calling you to seize the holiday season? Perhaps the decor and accelerated sales in the stores can be a reminder that God may be calling you to love your neighbor, your co-worker, or the lonely man or woman your life sometimes brushes up against. This holiday season is great time to demonstrate through both great and small acts our Father's great love.
