By Roy Myers
1 Corinthians 13
Our holiday decorations have become one part of the way we create space for celebration and a way to proclaim our love for God and each other during the holiday. Dana and Peter, particularly, love to decorate. Of course we have a tree and other traditional trimmings. We also have many knickknacks and lights, perhaps not as many as some and probably more than others. This tradition is so important to us that we developed a special collection of deployment holiday décor, which Dana sends me while I am away. Over the years, my ‘deployment holiday set’ composed of a tiny tree, lights and Thanksgiving Turkey have grown into a pretty neat package of memories. These items are a precious reminder to me of the love we share even as I am far from home. The decorations also express a reminder of love from home for those who stop by my office to take a moment and enjoy some holiday cheer.
In reflecting upon our family tradition, I began to wonder how we might expand upon holiday home decoration. Could our love itself decorate the spaces and events of the season as a demonstration of the love of God expressed though the Incarnation of Jesus? I Corinthians 13 describes what could be thought of as decorations that we can bring to our holiday celebrations and observances. How might God’s love during this season become more patient and kind? How does the Incarnation of Jesus remind me to step back from prideful hubris and lean into long suffering forgiveness? How does God’s love in and among us strengthen us to tell the truth in forbearance, confidence and hope? In many ways the process of decoration with knickknacks and lights seems much easier than the challenge of a love that ‘hopes all things and endures all things.’ I hope in this holiday season that you might consider how each of us can decorate our celebrations with the love described in I Corinthians 13.