Gift Wrapped
December 24, 2020
John Edgerton
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:2-7)
I sleep like a baby on Christmas Eve. When my head hits the pillow I am out like a light, down for the count, taking the express train to snooze-town.
Not so when I was a kid. I remember lying awake long into the night on Christmas Eve, my heart aflutter over whether I would get what I really wanted. Christmas was a wondrous day when I might awake to find my heart’s desire made real, literally gift wrapped, with no repayment possible (or even desired) other than being overjoyed.
As an adult, it’s not the same. I will get piles and piles of socks because that’s what I ask people for. I will get at least one cookbook because people know that’s what I’m into. Not exactly stuff that inspires sleepless nights of anticipation. It’s good (I suppose) to grow out of the thrill of materialism.
But I’ve lost something too.
I’ve stopped hoping that on Christmas morning I might awake to find my heart’s desire has been made real. True, my heart’s desire has shifted to be more like “I want a robust national public health plan” or “I want our country to move forward on racial equity”. And that’s not the sort of thing that can fit under a Christmas tree. No single person on earth could give me these things.
But these gifts, the gifts of a world that is finally built upon justice and peace, these are the true gifts that we celebrate at Christmas.
These are the gifts that God has promised. They are waiting for us, like a surprise. Like a gift wrapped in bands of cloth and laying in a manger.
If I thought that peace and justice would be waiting for me under the tree tomorrow? I couldn’t sleep a wink.
God, keep me awake tonight, waiting on You in wonder.
