Unwrapped

Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

on them light has shined.

We’ve dressed the story up

Made it cute

with shepherds and angels

and donkeys and camels

Wrapped it in tinsel just like our trees

And we’ve disguised the reality - 

That it was into a world much like today

that God was born

Born not to a serene mother

and doting surrogate father

as painted on our Christmas cards

But into a family forced to travel

to be part of a census

Forced to comply with the whims

of a corrupt and harsh government

A family for whom there was no room

and no handouts -

Like many of our benefits sanctioned families today

We’ve cleaned up the harsh reality 

of folk living in poverty

suffering from years of austerity

with leaders who were tyrants

who kept peace by violence

The story of Jesus birth

is not for churches

not for those who need things 

to be ordered

and tidy

It was into chaos that Christ was born

And it is into chaos that we welcome him today.

For we are just as desperate 

for light

for love

for hope

and for peace

to be born

For all who mourn

For all who yearn to be comforted

For all who long for change

God is born today

into the mess of our lives

and our world

God is born

not to clean things up

But to sit with us in the mess

and to bring us hope

that things will be different

Christmas is not for those

who have everything sorted

Whether we are ready or not

God is born for us.