A Christmas Story

Dec 23

Like many people, I usually come across the 1983 classic holiday film, “A Christmas Story,” at least once during December. I haven’t watched the entire film in many years, but there is one scene that sticks in my memory.

For almost two hours the movie portrays everything going wrong for a middle-class family in 1940s Indiana, right before Christmas. After many mistakes and misadventures(spoiler alert) the closing scene shows the house at the end of Christmas day. All is calm and all is bright as the mother and father relax on the couch and gaze on the warmly lit tree. With the kids in bed, Bing Crosby singing softly on the radio, and snow falling outside the windows, it feels like a Christmas card has come to life.

This scene is a wonderful reminder that the peace and joy of Christmas are not always found in the “big” moments or large gatherings. Rather, we can find peace and joy on a quiet Christmas Eve or a simple holiday supper when we realize that the gift of Christmas happens in the silence of our hearts, not necessarily in the decking of the halls.

In The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales gives example after example of finding God in the natural, ordinary moments of life. During the major holidays and special seasons of the year, we are so excited about creating new memories that we can forget the present moment.

The birth of Jesus is a story of real miracles and amazing moments that changed the world. Our culture and past experiences can easily lead us to a misunderstanding of the essence of this foundational feast. The core elements of faith and hope, of birth and redemption, are all around us. However, they can be lost amid the crowded gifts under the tree, the tinsel in the living room, and the music and memories that can overcrowd our senses. We can focus so much on the exteriors of Christmas, that we forget that the grace and beauty of the Incarnation is found in the ordinary moments of life.

During this Christmas week, as the hustle and bustle of the holidays begins to slow down, take time to search for the peace, joy, and grace of Christmas. You can find the miracle of Christ in the beauty that is all around us in the month of December. The decorations, the films, the parties, and the people all around us can certainly lead us to contemplate that God became one of us. However, don’t forget to also seek God in the silent nights, the ordinary days, and amidst the loud laughter of family and friends. Christ was born and we are re-born. That is the greatest Christmas story ever told!