A Holy Mess

     It was the first Sunday of Advent and the sanctuary was finally ready. The service was about to start when it happened. The lights on the Chrismon Tree went out. You could hear the gasps and several people leapt into action. After some jiggling, order was restored. As the prelude was being played the acolytes were lighting the candles. One of the candles just wouldn't light. Then it was time for the welcome and announcements and the sound system wouldn't work. Would nothing go right? You could just feel it in the air, this isn't what Christmas is supposed to be like. Christmas is supposed to be perfect.

     It was late, it was cold, and the town was bustling with people. They were late and all the accommodations were already taken. This is livestock. Those are shepherds. This is a dirty stable. This isn't how this is supposed to go. Christmas is supposed to be perfect. 

     Christmas is perfect, but it is also messy. That is what Christmas is. If it wasn't messy, it wouldn't have been necessary. The world that Jesus entered was not perfect, it was far from it. His entrance was messy, birth is messy. Christmas is messy. If your Christmas is not going as planned, welcome to the club. Messy isn't bad, messy is why we have Christmas. Messy is why we need Christmas. Celebrate the messiness and embrace the Savior that entered this mess to make it clean.

     The sound system started working. The lights stayed lit on the tree. The candle finally was lit. The word was preached. The sermon was title, "A weary world rejoices." That is what Christmas is, perfection entering a messy weary world to make it whole again.