Transcript

Good day, everybody. Hello. Welcome to the Wisdom Tree podcast. I’m your host, Doctor Genie. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a minister. I am a women’s empowerment coach and I’m a dream builder coach and I’m also a historian, so that’s a strange combination and it’s a lot, but that’s what I bring to the messages that I post.

This week I wanted to post a message about Christmas. Of course, because it’s the season. And I’ve had this on my mind for a while. I thought I would share. Definitely let me know what you think, OK.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, right? We can agree on. That so that means there’s the largest amount of people who celebrate Christmas, and there are even a lot of non Christians who celebrate the secular aspects of Christmas. Now I’m no longer a practicing Christian because as a historian, the atrocities of the church, some of which continue today, unfortunately. They’re just an insurmountable barrier to my faith in the religion.

I do believe there was a man, a wise man, a prophet. Who we now call Jesus. And who tried to make the world a better place. I don’t think he would understand the way in which we celebrate his birthday with stolen Pagan rituals and the secular commercialization. And perhaps even holding him up as a demigod in the Roman tradition. Especially since such traditions the man Jesus was trying to cleanse from his religion. So what would Jesus do? Isn’t that a famous saying, WWJD? What would Jesus do? That’s what I. Want to talk to you about today?

Christmas happens to be the darkest and loneliest day for many. You know, we have those in poverty who cannot afford to live up to the commercial expectations of Christmas. They can’t afford the food for celebrations and. The big presents for their children. And then there’s also those who feel unloved or rejected and invisible. You know, there are people who have the wealth of a king. But still feel alone on Christmas. And these two groups, the poor and the rejected. These are, I believe, where Jesus would focus, focus his attention.

So what would Jesus do? Would he not lift the spirits of those feeling the burden of poverty and loneliness? Of course he would. He would love the unloved. He would embrace the rejected. He would feed the hungry. He would gift poor children. All children with hope, courage, strength. And the promise of their dreams.

Have you ever spent a Christmas alone or broke? My hand has raised pretty high there my friends. As a young woman. I had many Christmases with no gifts under the tree and no dinner on the table. And then later I married my husband, who was in the Navy, and there were, you know, a dozen Christmases where we weren’t around family. And then he retired and we moved home and family was near. But we were rejected by them for being a multiethnic couple. There were a lot of family homes that we weren’t welcome in. So yeah, I have felt the sting of poverty and of rejection and the lack of hope and of that dark loneliness that comes at Christmas for a. Lot of people. I know many of you have in fact. I’m sure there’s very few people without such a memory. And of course, this is what makes us the most compassionate at Christmas, right? And even if circumstances are different for you this year, I know that memory sticks in your throat and the pain of it fills your heart. And it makes you it makes you want to give it makes you want to see everybody. Have a better Christmas.

But here’s the thing. You know, this is the season of celebrating the birth of the baby and the star that led us to the child. That baby that would save us, right? Save us from what? Well, we’re told he was born to. Save us from quote sin. But isn’t sin just the worst aspects of human behavior? So was it Jesus saving us from our shadow side and from inhumanity? And yet. There’s so many who follow him that feel the sting of cold indifference in the darkness this time of year. What would Jesus do on the celebration of his birthday. He would bring light to the darkness. And as followers of Jesus, how should we be celebrating his birthday? Shouldn’t we be following his lead? Shouldn’t we be doing what Jesus would be doing?

Where is our light? To shine upon those in darkness on Christmas Day. Where is our love for the unloved? Where are we embracing the rejected? Where is our seeing to the needs of the poor and the hungry? Where is our hope and joy for the children? On Christmas Day. Where are we serving our fellow humans? As Jesus would have served his fellow humans. I’m not talking about the week before Christmas. I’m not talking about what you did a month ago. This isn’t about that donation of green beans that you gave to the food bank. This is not about nameless, faceless donations of toys and food and winter coats. Listen, all those things are beautiful gifts. They are heartfelt donations that help people survive that people need. They they really are beautiful gifts.

But what are we missing in this in this way that we help others? We are not gifting the connection to the people who are receiving the gift or to the gift givers. We’re forgetting the humanity and the personal touch of people serving in person, of looking one another in the eyes of giving hugs, of giving thanks of giving love. We’re giving things. But we’re not giving our light and our hope and our joy. Would Jesus not look those he served directly in the eyes? Yes, he did. He looked the people he healed and the people he blessed directly in the eyes. No. Matter who it was. He would bless people with a hand on a shoulder. A touch. A compassionate glance. A palm on the forehead. This is the light and warmth of humanity. This is the miracle of Christmas. The personal connection.

You remember the wise men in the story, right? They rode to see the baby in person. They didn’t hear about it through a note delivered. They saw the star and they went. There in person. They wanted the personal connection. To give in person. To see who you are helping to give a glance of compassion, to embrace someone who is lonely or rejected, or feeling invisible to see them. The emotional connection you just can’t put that in a donation box. You can’t have that dropped off at someone’s house. You can’t pick that up in the drive through. Jesus would be doing. It in person.

But that would humiliate those in need, some will say. Would it? Would it humiliate someone to feel the warm embrace of a fellow human who has been there, who understands, and who who wants to share compassion and hope? What are we teaching kids? That gifts are coldly given without emotional connection to the giver. Why are we denying ourselves the joy of watching a child opened a gift they were not expecting? How many of you don’t love to watch? Children open gifts. Like it’s the most joyous thing imaginable, we moms. That’s what we live for. Is watching the kids and our husbands. And our moms and our family, we love watching people open the gifts. I mean, it’s ridiculous job. Why do we deny ourselves that in our giving? And yet. Service and giving has become so cold and indifferent and disconnected from warmth and joy. I asked this rhetorically. Is this what Jesus would do? No, of course not. But I think it’s something we need to think about.

If we’re going to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season or keep Christ in Christmas. Then I think it’s time we really understand what that means. It’s not a commercial thing. It’s not a penance for our sins. We don’t donate so that we can feel. We’ve made-up for some mistake that we made earlier in the in the year. You don’t donate. So that you can feel pride or post it on social media. It’s not supposed to be like feeding a herd of cattle.

The reason for the season is light, joy, hope, love, and humanity. This is the message of Jesus. That there are so many people in the darkness feeling alone and hopeless. What would Jesus do? On Christmas Day, we can be sure. He would bring light. And humanity to those in the darkness. That is the reason for the season.

So I ask you guys. This Christmas. Reach out to someone in your sphere in your circle of friends or family. That person who doesn’t come to dinner because they don’t feel accepted. That single mom who won’t. Have a stocking filled or a present under the tree. That military member who lives far away and doesn’t get to participate in family traditions. On Christmas Day, reach out to them. Invite neighbors for dinner. Welcome the kids down the street. FaceTime your nieces and nephews and watch them open that gift you mailed to them. Participate in the joy of Christmas so you have plenty to share. And yes, volunteer. Work a soup kitchen. Take wrapped gifts to the Unhoused community. Open your heart. Because that’s what Jesus would do. That is why he came. That was his mission. That was his message. Love one another. And especially on Christmas Day.

And if it’s you. Who are in the darkness this Christmas? If you feel rejected. Unloved. Invisible. I see you. And I want you to know there is hope. Please be willing to see it. Please reach out for support if the darkness is too much. And know that I love you. And that I am sending you light and healing Reiki energy. Please accept it and feel its warmth. You are not alone. You are loved. You are worthy. You have a light to shine. Thank you all. And I hope you have a blessed Christmas.