<div class=oldwebkit><p><em>It is the path of least resistance to be caught up in the details of Christmas preparation but in doing so we risk missing the forest of divine Love for all the trees of our to-do lists. Todays reflection encourages us to refocus on unity and community as the deeper meaning of our celebration of the Incarnation and not to let a myriad of presents obscure the one gift that matters.</em></p></div><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=oldwebkit><p><strong>December 25 2022: Feast of the Nativity of Jesus</strong></p><p>Isaiah 62:11-12</p><p>Psalm 97:1 6 11-12</p><p>Titus 3:4-7</p><p>Luke 2:15-20</p><h3>Not Presents but Presence: The Give of Jesus and Ourselves this Christmas</h3><p><em>A reflection by Thomas DeVoyd</em></p><p><em>(This reflection is based on the readings from Christmas Mass at Dawn. Lectionary readings for other Christmas services can be found&nbsp;<a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=18869&amp;qid=2699111 target=_blank title=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=18869&amp;qid=2699111>here</a>.)</em></p><p>This is the day we celebrate Jesus birth. Actually its November 12th as I write. I wonder what will be happening in the world when Christmas arrives. Some say we will not have diesel fuel. There may be no gifts sent out or deliveries to those we love. I hope that doesnt happen but would it matter that much if it did? For many years I had very little money. My house had been foreclosed on and things were not going well. I stopped with all the presents and truth be told I was happier. Although these days I enjoy giving gifts to people I love I have realized since then less focus on presents was not a bad idea. We can focus too much on Christmas presents. Some people go into debt for the sake of giving Christmas presents and are paying it until next year when the cycle starts all over.</p><p>Now I am focused on God and church. In Titus it states that God gave us Jesus who has saved us all. We all now share in the glory of God. One of my favorite Christmas shows is A Charlie Brown Christmas. In its own way it talks about how we can get so focused on things that we lose sight of what is important. The author of Titus reminds us we have the hope of eternal life. That is better than any present someone could give.</p><p>Isaiah says See your Savior comes! They will be called the Holy People the redeemed of the Lord (62:11-12). We will be redeemed. I think that is better than another candle that I do not need. It is something that I work towards throughout the rest of my life. How can we get this redemption? We have to work towards it. It is not a given. I think that we need to see that there is more than the division of the nation. The LGBTQ+ community is dividing itself. That is also not what this is about. Jesus came to put us all together without regard to our gender orientation race or even religion that we follow.</p><p>Luke tells the story of the nativity. Mary had to give birth in a stable. She had to place the baby in a manger. Jesus had humble beginnings. The shepherds told all those nearby what had transpired. Mary took all of it in and pondered what it all meant. I could not imagine what was going through her mind. There must have been so much. She was told she was to have the Messiah and that her name would always be remembered. We can think about what that means in theory but when Mary was faced with that reality it must have been overwhelming. When I was in school learning to be a nurse I understood some of what being a nurse meant but I thought I understood all of what being a nurse would be. I thought I would understand the role just from being a student. It was much different when I had my first job. I will admit I was a bit scared and felt unprepared. Even if she felt some version of that same fear Mary trusted that God would make sure that she would have all she needed to succeed.</p><p>So what does this all mean? What do we really need to focus on this day? Is it the shopping and preparations for meals? Could it be trying to outdo people on presents? That should not be the case for us. Mary received gifts from the Magi but if she hadnt I dont think she would have felt the loss. She had Jesus whom she knew would change the world. She was a part of that. For God has raised Mary to never be forgotten and to have a major impact on the world.</p><p>How can we have an impact on our world? What can we do for our own LGBTQ+ community? How about working towards becoming a community. Then working with others to make us all one community. We are becoming fractured. There will always be disagreement. This should make us stronger. We need to find a way to come together. Only then we can become a true community. Christmas is now upon us. Jesus has been born to save us all. Remember that joy and spread it. Merry Christmas to all! I hope the time you spend with your family (born into or chosen) helps you see the true meaning of Christmas is not about the presents we receive but what we give of ourselves.</p></div><div class=oldwebkit>&nbsp;</div><div class=oldwebkit><div class=mobile-full><img class=mobile-full src=https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/uploads/static/tom_devoyd_f4bcc5ef7a025c5982257dff48276847.png alt= width=166 hspace=0 vspace=0></div><div class=mobile-full><p><em><strong>Tom DeVoyd</strong>&nbsp;is a nurse in long term care and works with resident with Dementia. He is an advocate for his residents and has a Masters Degree in Nursing in Adult Psych/ Mental Health. He is also an advocate for the LGBTQI+ community. Tom currently lives in a small town in NH with his partner of years Phil. He enjoys reflecting on the scriptures and focusing on the world of when the scriptures were written.</em></p></div></div><p></p><p style=text-align: center;><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>