An After-Christmas Poem
-Learning how to Grow in Jesus-

Twas the day after Christmas
when alone in the church
The Pastor was wondering, 'Am
I left in the lurch?'

The altar was circled with poin-
settias with care
In hopes that more people
would soon be there.

But folks were still nestled all
snug in their beds
While memories of yesterday
danced in their heads.

A bundled-up jogger was run-
ning a lap,
And dad, mom and kids were
taking a nap.

When out by the crib there arose
such a clatter,
The Pastor rushed in to see what
was the matter.

The babe in the manger was
wailing and crying,
'Where are the folks for whom
I'll be dying?'

Their faith, their hope, their
love, I do fear,
Only show up here once or twice
a year.

Now Michael! Now Daniel!
Now Peter and Colleen!
On Eddy, On Freddy! On Rita
and Maxine!

Don't let me lie here so lonely
and forlorn,
It was for each of you that I
came to be born.

So come every Sunday through-
out the New Year,
And I'll fill hearts and souls with
lots of good cheer.

I won't stay a baby, so fast I'll
grow up.
But you won't get to know Me
unless you show up.

A challenging poem isn't it? Who can't love a baby? But at the same time, who can always love another adult?

We humans like moments of sentimentality and victory. So we come to church in droves to celebrate the empty womb and the empty tomb; birth and resurrection. But there's more to life than being born into time and being born into eternity. There are things like growing and changing and maturing and dying. If we don't grow with Jesus, we might never grow ourselves.

We don't go to church to be like everyone else. We go to church to be our most unique self, to be our God-self. But we won't know what that is and who we are called to be unless we are there to hear God's word, to receive God's presence in the Eucharist, to be supported by a believing community of people who are also trying to become like God.

There's always someone willing to tell you what to do or who to be in life. Wouldn't you rather that someone be God?