No need to hunt for Hope on Christmas

I love to hunt.

I love hunting pheasants, turkeys, geese, ducks and deer. I enjoy the hunt for the challenge and the adventure while experiencing God's gift of Creation. However, in my hunts I am not desperate to bring home game.

This year I sense people hunting, often in desperation, to have something on which they can rely. The year of COVID-19 has been an unexpected surprise that has thrown life into disarray. People seem to be hunting for Hope. Some people hunted for Hope in the election or government help. Some people hunt for Hope in the promise of vaccines. Some people hunt for Hope in media reports. Hope can be more difficult to find now when we are restricted in our contacts with other people.

Christians recognize that the one true Hope is in the Lord Jesus. When Jesus was born, it was a difficult time for many people – there was poverty, handicaps, disease and Roman rule. Into this time of desperation, the Infant Jesus shows us Emmanuel, God is with us. It has been the same throughout the generations since then. No matter how dark and discouraging things have been, Christians have the certain and true Hope that God is with them. This is the Hope that gives security. This is the Hope that gives peace.

We respond to this gift of Hope with praise and worship wherever we may be. We also respond by sharing this gift with others, so they may experience the Infant Jesus and know that he is alive in the world.

May you all be blessed with a deep sense of Hope through the Infant Jesus this Christmas.