Christmas

It is almost Christmas. It sounds hard to believe that Dan and I are never big on celebrating anything. Yes, we put up Christmas trees and put some lights out in the bushes in front of our house before, give each other a few gifts, that's about it. Having Kioni makes a bit of a difference. Since we didn't bring the 7-foot Christmas tree to Cebu, we spent $2.5 USD to buy a 3-foot Christmas tree, a single string of lights and some angel ornaments. Kioni drew a couple of paper angels. On top of that, we received wonderful gifts from Dan's family. I think Kioni got the idea, though there still is no snow, no matter how much she asks for it.

We are anticipating a loud Christmas night firework display, 'smoke from the firework will come into your house', the old-timers said to us. This will be a new experience for us. We thought we will try it once, if we can't take it, we will go hide somewhere on an island next Christmas.

This is the hottest Christmas I have ever had, even in Hong Kong, the weather is nice and cool. And in the past 10 years, living mostly in the North American mid-west, Christmases were always cold. It is a bit hard to believe that it is Christmas, but the Good News does not come with how low the temperature gets, it does not come with the inches of snow that falls, it does not come with the many Christmas gifts, it does not come with festive foods, cookies, pies, etc., it does not come with Christmas tree, it does not even come with families and friends being together sharing our love.

The Good News comes with the fact that Jesus indeed was born as a true human being while he is still true God, and He came for one purpose and one purpose only -- to bring salvation to a bunch of 'losers' who cannot possibly save themselves. That is something quite fascinating, quite spectacular, quite difficult to fathom. More fascinating and spectacular than all the firework displays and 30-foot Christmas tree, more difficult to fathom than the love of families and friends. Snow or no snow, cold or hot, Jesus' birth is the only truth that matters during Christmas.