Rethinking Christmas, Part 2

Rethinking Christmas, Part 2

At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God…which is inaccessible to the…brutalities of our own will.[1]

It is easy to adopt an outward focus at Christmas. Everything about the season, from commercials to traditions to church services, encourages it. From children waiting for Santa to preachers telling of the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago, most experiences of Christmas draw us to something distant in time – past or future – or to someplace distant in space. Seldom are we told that the birth of Christ only and ever happens here and now. It happens at the center of our being and radiates outward. It does not penetrate inward from something outside of ourselves. It will not come in presents under the tree or sermons from the pulpit. Instead, the birth of the Christ, the second-coming, emerges via an inner passageway that is opened by an act of personal surrender. Whether we call it Christ-consciousness or Enlightenment or entering the kingdom of God, we can become consciously aware that we are One in and with God. There is a spark within us, in Thomas Merton’s words, that was implanted by God from the beginning and that is the presence God in us: God with us – Emmanuel. Allowing that light to emerge is more impactful than anything that happens outside of us, at Christmastime or ever.

It is said that Jesus saves us from our sin, and I believe that is true. I do not believe it is true in the way it is often portrayed, however. Being saved from our sin does not mean some bothersome trait is magically erased from our lives. Rather, the unpleasantness becomes part of a new and larger story, a step on the road to something better. In my experience, neither Jesus nor God saves us from the physical or emotional consequences of our actions. For example, when I stopped smoking, I was not saved from the physical withdrawal effects of my addiction. What was removed from me was the desire to smoke, regardless of the withdrawal symptoms. Had I only been saved from the withdrawal unpleasantness and not the desire that led to the negative effects, the saving granted would have been short-lived. The physical laws of cause and effect are always in effect, and effects are often the things from which we wish Jesus to save us. And we are often disappointed and disillusioned. Our confusion stems not from a failing of Jesus but from our misunderstanding of sin.

Sin is that which separates us – from God, from friends and family, from what is good for us. Smoking was sinful for me because it separated me from others. It prevented me from caring properly for my body and from living a better version of myself. Hurtful words, self-centered actions, and neglect of the needs of others all become sinful as they become habituated. Whatever sinful, divisive habits we develop have an originating cause which must find a healing context from which to manifest in a less divisive manner before any lasting relief from its effects can begin.

The many beliefs, actions, and illusions that cause separation from God and others are the very things that prevent the emergence of our God-given spark – the Christ-child within us. Like a bucket placed over a candle, our internal light cannot radiate outward to others, and it only blesses us and others when it flows through us. The birth, life, and teachings of Jesus offer salvation not as freedom from the law of cause and effect, but by freeing us from the brutal sense of isolation and enslavement underlying every sin. As separate, disconnected beings we wrongly believe we can benefit at the expense of another or cause harm without suffering its effects.

Jesus saves us from our sinful nature by modeling a life of oneness with God and encouraging us to follow that lead. Jesus reveals our oneness – with him, with God, and with others, which is where we reconnect with God and others. And that is our salvation in Christ. Reconciling or rejoining our conscious awareness with the spiritual forces of love and inclusion is often called atonement, or at-one-ment. Our inner spark is and always has been One with God, regardless of our knowledge of it. Allowing it to emerge from within permits our conscious participation in that holy, healing fellowship. And as that spark ignites and grows, the presence and pull of sin and illusion in our earthly experience diminishes.

The opinions expressed are mine. To engage with me or to explore contemplative spiritual direction, contact me at ghildenbrand@sunflower.com.

Upcoming Contemplative Events, free and open to all:

Contemplative Advent Class: Exploring Christmas through a different lens. Saturday mornings at 9:30 am, December 2 through January 6; FUMC Celebration Center, 867 Hwy 40, Lawrence, KS.

Indoor Labrynth: Open from 9am to noon on January 5 at Peace Mennonite church, 615 Licoln St., Lawrence, KS.

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[1] Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Doubleday, 1965, 1966, p. 140.