Gary Becker (Exec. Director of BBM, inc)
This time of the year we hear some very familiar songs like, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams. The song describes this time of year as as a time of “good Cheer . . . hearts will be glowing . . . glories of Christmas.”
Another song , “Greatest Time of the Year” by Aly and A.J, talks about celebrating the holiday. It even calls us to “lift up our hearts and feel the love.”
Both of these songs are certainly uplifting but they fail to make any clear mention of the real reason for the season. Nor do they reveal anything about why we should be of good cheer or help us understand what can life up our heart. In this season we hear a lot about love but there is little declared about the greatest love of all.
Yet even though these songs and the many celebrations of the season do not clearly reveal the message of the Christmas. However, they do present us with an opportunity to share with people the deeper meaning and truth about the Savior’s Birth.
I would like to suggest that the “Greatest Time of the Year” can provide us with one of the “Greatest” opportunity of the year to declare who the Savor is and why he came.
In recent days there seems to be a greater openness to being able to share our faith. People from many walks of life and positions seem to be more open about their faith. Many athletes in celebrating a victory when being interviewed seem ready to declare their faith or give some recognition to the Lord. I have been encouraged in my chaplain ministries to see how many business leaders are ready to share openly with their employees. Some business owners are including in their business vision/mission statements references to their faith. Some business owners are even taking a few minutes at Christmas employee gatherings to offer at least a reference to Jesus birth.
Let me challenge all of us to make “This Time of Year” a time to take advantage of the season to declare the message of the Savor born. A simple opening can be asking someone, what makes this time of the year special to you? Or maybe making a reference to one of the songs mention above and ask “why do you think this time of the year so special?” Be ready to share your reasons and even perhaps invite friends to a service during the season. Be ready to share the “why” you have peace and hope in this season. You just may find them more open than you think. Let’s follow Peter’s challenge, “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
Praying this Christmas finds you filled with the peace and hope of knowing the truth of what really makes this a wonderful time of the year.