We have a lot of traditions around this time of year. Some change and some remain steadfast. Our favorite Christmas songs come and go and favorite Christmas meals might change, but there is one tradition that has stood the test of time from the very beginning: traveling during the holidays. Mary and Joseph did it then, and we do it now. Whether you’re just going across town, across the country, or across the world, there is an excitement mixed with angst that comes with traveling during this time of year.
The traffic is bad, the airport is crowded, or you’re riding a donkey while you are “great with child” it all gets in the way of your ultimate goal of being at your destination. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to take care of some business. They didn’t know that while they were there, they would bring the greatest gift of all time into the world, much less that they would do it in someone’s shed.
Luke 2:4-8
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
This time of year, it is easy to get so focused on where we want to go that we forget to recognize where we are. Are the decorations perfect? Is my Christmas card perfect? Did I buy all the right gifts? Jesus, who lived a life of love and humility, began in the most humble of circumstances: wrapped in rags and laying in a feeding trough. He didn’t need to be born in a palace to grow up and change the world.
Don’t reach the end of December only having a credit card bill to remind you of what happened. Don’t run to have the perfect holiday. Run to be closer to Jesus. Run to be more like Jesus.