Joy to the World...Who has Come?

As I've been listening to Christmas carols lately, I'm amazed that we can still say "Joy to the World, the Lord has come!" What a proclamation on public radio and television! I wonder how much longer our culture and the world we live in will allow such bold proclamations?

What is it about this time of year, that some of the worlds most radical secular proponents in entertainment and politics can come together and sing songs that acknowledge the birth of our Lord and not just "Santa Baby"? I wonder if some of it has to do with our roots, where we've come from and how we've been raised and in a way conditioned to think.

I once worked with a man who was a homosexual. We use to have some of the greatest conversations. Even though we both wholeheartily disagreed on some major points, we still had one thing in common: we both were raised in a conservative Christian home. Our roots were our common ground and from there, life and personal choices paved different roads for the two of us.

There's something comforting about singing "I'll be Home For Christmas." In many ways, a lot of us can sympathize with the lyrics of that song. For many of us, our roots and where "home" first began, carry with it some very fond memories. There's a longing in our hearts to be with those closest to us on holidays such as Christmas. Many of us cling on to the traditions that have been established around this time of year. We long to go home and like Chris Daughtry's song, "Home" we say, "I'm going home, to the place where I belong, where your love has always been enough for me."

And since tomorrow, neither Josh nor I can be back with our families (our roots and traiditons) because of our snowy weather here in the Northwest, I'm especially thankful for my beginnings and for the families that have so lovingly raised us and have given us such amazing spiritual foundations.

I hope that by the time we have kids, we'll still have the spiritual freedom to proclaim "Joy to the World, the Lord has come" and not just because it is a statement reminiscent of our roots, but because it is the bold truth that should not be smothered by vain traditions.