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That's Christmas To Me

Christmas to me is not about the presents. It's about the presence.

Joel Sigrist

Dec 25, 2017

George Fox University

timedotcom

Christmas. Christmas is such a powerful time. There's caroling, cookies, excitement, presents, joy, good food... everything. Christmas has it all. Everyone has strong memories linked to Christmas, and whether it is positive or negative, Christmas is huge.

The traditional Christmas has presents, a tree, good food, family, laughter, joy, and depending on your background, Jesus or Santa. (And in some cases, both Jesus and Santa). But to me, Christmas is not about any of this. Christmas is about presence.

Christmas is about Jesus coming down to earth to be with us. It is about Jesus coming to be present with us in whatever we experience. Whether your year has been good or bad, or some combination of the two, Jesus is present. Jesus is here. He knows.

The past six months have been very difficult for me. There were moments where my faith was tested and moments where I was pushed to what I thought my limits were, and in some cases, past that. Fall semester was one that forced me to grow, in ways that I did not even know I needed to. And so, coming into Christmas, I have not been fully in "The Christmas Spirit." I have not had the desire to go caroling, I have not wanted to make Christmas cookies, and I have not had the warm fuzzy feelings that are supposed to come with Christmas.

But that's okay. Because Jesus didn't just come to bring happiness and joy. Jesus came to be present with us. He came to sit with us through the hard times and through the good times.

To me, the most amazing thing about Jesus's ministry on earth is that He came and sat and was present for 30 years. For three decades, Jesus sat and got to know us and understand humanity where we are at. There is a valuable lesson in this. In so much of life, we are eager to solve problems and move on from pain. But this is not what Jesus did. Sometimes sitting and being present in an issue or a pain is enough.

And He is still present. Jesus still knows where you're at and where I'm at. Jesus is here and he is love. And so, in everything that we are, Jesus' presence is enough. And so I don't need to be everything I want to be, because Jesus is here. Jesus is with me and Jesus loves.

So while this Christmas season is truly at its peak today, I can enjoy it, no matter where I'm at. Despite the hard semester I've just been through, Jesus is truly present and brings true joy. And that makes it okay. He is here and He is present to understand and to bring love and healing. And with that in mind, I can truly say "Merry Christmas."

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For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

28. I need a comfort dog so I can avoid all life and school responsibilities.

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

Who isn't stressing out over finals right now?

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