Finding Your Way Home at Christmas

This Sunday begins the holiday season at The Crossing with the theme, "Finding Your Way Home at Christmas." In the first Christmas most of the prominent players were traveling. The Magi traveled 600 miles from Persia to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph went about 70 miles from Nazareth, and the Shepherds traveled a few miles into town from the surrounding hills of Bethlehem. And One--one very important baby--traveled quite a long way from Heaven to be the main attraction of the Christmas story.

Like many people since then, Christmas had them on the road. They all felt some deep longing strongly expressed by the simple fact that they just kept going in a time when travel was very difficult. Eyes wide open, they were searching, needing, grasping for something real but invisible--something essential but intangible. They looked like they were on a fool's errand but the world's first Scrooges did not stop them. As with many Christmas travelers since, they were finding their way home at Christmas.

In our adult lives Shelli and I have never had a Christmas without a trip. Like us, most everyone feels a very powerful longing to be home for Christmas. Sometimes, in spite of long distances, bad weather, or very little money we would joyfully head for home. Nothing was more important than getting home.
At Christmas something draws us in a similar fashion to the Lord. This season just makes us feel the need to seek the Lord. We just need to connect with our Father and find the comfort and peace of being at home in His will. Maybe you feel as far away from God as the Magi or as close to Him as Mary and Joseph were. Regardless of your distance finding your way home at Christmas is about seeing the signs that light the way. Some who were close that first Christmas ignored the signs and missed out. Others who were far away, saw the signs and experienced the greatest of joys.

This holiday season God wants you to find your way home to a closer relationship with God. We will look at the signs God is giving you and regardless of where you are you will see each week how you can find your way home at Christmas.