Christmas is in just a few days and I, like many people I’m
sure, are not ready for it. There are so
many things to do: shopping for presents, cards to send, baking, decorating,
etc. There just doesn’t seem to be
enough time to get everything done – and the pressure is on – self imposed
pressure.
I’ve been reflecting on my experience of Christmas in
mission and how different it was. I was away
from family and friends which was difficult. I missed listening to Christmas Carols on the
radio, decorating the Christmas tree, the Christmas specials on TV (we didn’t
have TV), shops decorated and offering great bargains, etc. It didn’t “feel” like Christmas.
And while I missed all of that, I also received the gift of celebrating
Christmas in Sierra Leone. On Christmas
Eve, the choir at Church had a mini “concert” before midnight Mass – and after
not having heard any Christmas music the month prior, it was an extra joyous
celebration. After Mass, people would
ride in the back of trucks banging pots and pans exclaiming Happy
Christmas. Then we all got up the next
morning for Mass on Christmas Day.
Gift giving was not common.
But I did usually find something small to give to the people I was close
to. And because there was no pressure to
give, or expectation to receive, there was genuine joy in giving and gratitude
in receiving.
I try not to romanticize Christmas in Sierra Leone – just like
I had to learn not to romanticize Christmas back home when I was there. There is an upside and downside to both. But I am, at the 11th hour, trying
to strike a balance between the two.
My hope and prayer is that those of us here at home, and our
Lay Mission-Helpers who are in mission, will remember that the Spirit of
Christmas can be alive no matter where we are – if we get out of the way.
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| Christmas Tree in Zimbabwe |
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