Peripheral vision is important in driving. We need to be aware to what is going on around us. Tunnel vision can cause accidents. In celebrating Christmas, we need to know what is going on around us, but too often, the peripheral items steal our focus away from the true meaning of Christmas. We lose sight of the reason we celebrate as the celebrations themselves along with all the trappings get the attention. There is nothing wrong with fun times, good food, and gifts. The problem is that they have become the focus of the season and the reason we share these things becomes peripheral. Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas, but many times he becomes only an excuse to party.
Angels appeared to the shepherds announcing "glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:8-11). A special star appeared in the sky, leading wise men to Jesus(Matthew 2:1-2). They came bearing gifts for the King of Kings who was the savior of the World (Matthew 2:10-12). Our Christmas celebrations recall the nativity story with stars on our trees, shepherds and wise men, gifts, and evergreen branches signifying eternal life. The icons are still there telling the story. Star spangled wrapping is ripped off of gifts with no thought to what they represent. Wise men are icons of the season, but few give thought to what the wise men were searching for, or what they found. Angels have a prominent place, but they are silent sentinels instead of messengers bringing news of salvation to all mankind. In so many homes, the core of Christmas, which is Christ, has become peripheral to the celebrations of the season. When the story comes into focus, Christ will be seen at the center, and only then can we celebrate properly, for then our celebrations are inspired with the reason they exist in the first place. We do not celebrate for sake of celebration, but we celebrate for Christ's Sake.
