December is a month in tension. It holds religious and cultural celebrations and observances: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, New Year’s Eve. Planning and preparations abound this time of year. To celebrate well requires effort. Shopping must be accomplished, whether for gifts or accessories for the occasion. Meals are planned and executed with main dishes, sweets and decorations. We connect with friends and family whether in person, on-line or through the mail. Calendars become burdened with obligations, appointments and gatherings.  

Many endeavor to make this “the most wonderful time of the year”, to re-live special memories or create new ones for themselves and those around them. We carry traditions forward with particular foods or cookies. We are sure to watch a Christmas special, whether it is “Charlie Brown Christmas” “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer”, “Christmas at St. Olaf” or the latest find on the Hallmark Channel.  

The tension comes into focus between celebrating the holidays and enjoying them. These days hold a lot of weight and expectation. There is always the desire to make them “just right”, but there are forces fighting us along the way. These include weather, limited time, differing expectations, supply line shortages, past disappointments, lack of sleep, energy or health. You could probably add more impediments to the list.  

But despite that, we try. I think one key to all this is recognizing that the celebrations are not the end by themselves. Rather, they are a means to an end in recognizing what is important. This revolves around relationships with family, friends and community. The celebrations that will take place are about being with people you love and who love you. We share the importance of each other and our relationships through these various ways.  

For me and many Christians, we celebrate the relationship that God has with humanity. One grounding tradition we have is hearing again the narrative of Jesus’ birth. It was a momentous event announced only to some shepherds in an out of the way field, near out of the way Bethlehem.  

The days ahead are not special because of what we will do with them or how we will fill them. They are special because they bring to mind the miracle that has taken place with the birth of Jesus and the on-going presence of God with us.  

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. John Tabaka is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe.