On Christmas Eve a truck pulled up in front of our house and a man stepped out and came to our door. He introduced himself as the President of our HOA. Then he told me that we had “won” an HOA prize for outdoor Christmas decorations in the “Nativity” category. As he said that, he handed me a $100 Visa gift card.
I was surprised! For two reasons. First, I did not know the HOA had prizes for Christmas decorations. Second, our nativity set is not really very much. About 3-foot tall, it is a white outline of a simple manger scene with Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus. I have wanted to add shepherds and wise men and other pieces to it, but it never seems to be a priority when budgets are tight.
I asked the gentleman if we were the only people in our subdivision with a manger … and he shrugged, which probably said far more than if he had responded.
I have noticed there were fewer people with outdoor decorations this year. Maybe our cold weather was a factor. And I have also noticed that most of the decorations were secular, but an entire subdivision and I am the only one that remembered to include in my Christmas decorations the Reason for the Season – the birth of Christ Jesus two-thousand years ago?
I suppose I should be stunned, but I am not. Not Really. Christ Jesus is polarizing. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the most intense question ever asked, “’But you,’ [Jesus] asked them, ‘who do you say that I am.’” [Matthew 16:15, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20]
That is a question every one of us will need to answer. And while our answer may set us at odds with family or friend, it will definitely set us at odds with this world.
