Oh, Holiest of Nights.

Sitting here, thinking about that first Christmas so long ago. In my imagination, I see a view of the nativity from far away... lit by a few torches, lanterns carried by shepherds from their fields. The great star above especially shines bright, tonight. Outside of the town, the stable or the cave, lonely and cold, hidden in the night, nestled in the star's light alone, until eye-witnesses gathered around.
And in its modest, simplest of settings, the first scene of G-d with us unfolded, dazzled in the darkness! O, holy night! Christ with us!
Looking at a different wooden structure right now, glittering with a few simple lights, I call to mind the original scene. The Gift. The singing. The quiet still of Bethlehem. The gathering. The family. The hurdles conquered, and those yet to come.
And the hope.

Christmas happens. It is a thing of the present.
Christ is. Everyday. 
And that is worth celebrating.

Christ is with us every morning and day, every evening and night... because of that miracle. Jesus became, in essence, tangible, on that evening. The shepherds, I imagine, would want to hold the precious Baby in their arms. I pray for each of us to embrace our Savior with open arms, not only on this evening, but throughout the year. Not only is He the reason for the season, but He is the reason for life alone. The hope that does not yet disappoint is by His grace.

"Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." -Luke 10:10-20

Merry, merry Christmas.