Merry Christmas 2008?
As I write this, I am in Cairo, Egypt, celebrating Christmas in a Muslim country. Our son is teaching here. He is working for a Jesuit prep school.
There are nearly 2 million Christians in the Cairo area is what my son tells me. Tonight we met for a Christmas Eve carol service at the Maadi Community Church, which is made up of mostly American, European ex-patriots, and African refugees and immigrants. It was a candlelight service. We were surrounded by police protection in this country to guard against any kind of sectarian attack that could happen, even though the chances of that are slim.
What has struck me here so far is the extremes of poverty and wealth. Social status difference is unbelievable. Wealthy Egyptians are very wealthy. As we walked through part of Coptic Cairo today, we watched as children scavenged from a garbage heap for their existence.
Tonight, I am overwhelmed that the Christmas message still needs to reach millions, who have no clue. They are bound by poverty, religious restriction and despair.
Yet, as I commented tonight to Janet and Chris, this is the weirdest Christmas Eve ever. There were no presents, no lights, only a couple of trees and yes, the wobbly singing of a few carols. Yet, without the commercialism, Christmas means more this year. I have been blessed today to know how much Christ loves all through the words of carols and scripture.
Many of you will exchange lots of presents, eat big meals and think very little of the non-Christian world. Yet there is so much more.
As you celebrate the nativity today I want you to ask yourself a couple of questions. Would I celebrate Christmas even if it was not commercialized, really? What is the greatest Christmas memory you have? Finally, do we really as the church celebrate Christmas and the advent or are we just along for the secular ride?
I hope to blog some more on this two week journey. So Merry Christmas. As with all my posts, I wonder if you have a comment.
What do you think about Merry Christmas 2008?
There are nearly 2 million Christians in the Cairo area is what my son tells me. Tonight we met for a Christmas Eve carol service at the Maadi Community Church, which is made up of mostly American, European ex-patriots, and African refugees and immigrants. It was a candlelight service. We were surrounded by police protection in this country to guard against any kind of sectarian attack that could happen, even though the chances of that are slim.
What has struck me here so far is the extremes of poverty and wealth. Social status difference is unbelievable. Wealthy Egyptians are very wealthy. As we walked through part of Coptic Cairo today, we watched as children scavenged from a garbage heap for their existence.
Tonight, I am overwhelmed that the Christmas message still needs to reach millions, who have no clue. They are bound by poverty, religious restriction and despair.
Yet, as I commented tonight to Janet and Chris, this is the weirdest Christmas Eve ever. There were no presents, no lights, only a couple of trees and yes, the wobbly singing of a few carols. Yet, without the commercialism, Christmas means more this year. I have been blessed today to know how much Christ loves all through the words of carols and scripture.
Many of you will exchange lots of presents, eat big meals and think very little of the non-Christian world. Yet there is so much more.
As you celebrate the nativity today I want you to ask yourself a couple of questions. Would I celebrate Christmas even if it was not commercialized, really? What is the greatest Christmas memory you have? Finally, do we really as the church celebrate Christmas and the advent or are we just along for the secular ride?
I hope to blog some more on this two week journey. So Merry Christmas. As with all my posts, I wonder if you have a comment.
What do you think about Merry Christmas 2008?
posted by Larry at 4:47 PM
6 Comments:
Merry Christmas Larry and Janet:
What an amazing place to be, with your son. It must be profound to have Christmas celebration in such a significant manner.
God bless us, every one.
thanks jessie...Christmas day has been very different here..makes you appreciate what you have som much more.
Merry Christmas!
It's interesting that you wrote all about the no presents and stuff. Tim obviously doesn't have any money so all we got from him was a simple card. Not a nice hallmark one just a card. We all opened them at the same time (he wasn't in the room) and there wasn't a single dry eye in the room. That Christmas present was better than any other present I got this Christmas. It was honest, loving and from the heart and that was all that mattered to us. He didn't come downstairs till we were all done opening presents, I think he was ashamed that a card was all he had but I think it was the most humbling experience for us all today.
love to you and your family!
What a great time to be in a different country/culture/etc.. I love learning and observing the differences in culture and worldview, especially first hand if I can. It always get my mind thinking about what I am or am not doing at home in work and in ministry.
Looking forward to reading more about your trip and insights.
Also looking forward to the Urban Forum!
Tom
Allison, your comment touched me. I understand what Tim went through very well. And your comment blessed me. I hope everyone knows how important your response to his card was. Whatever gift you gave to Tim, this comment is the one that heals and loves. I'm sure you had an opportunity to say something similar to him.
Thanks Jeff. I actually gave Tim a Bible for Christmas. So i guess that is a gift of healing and love too :)
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