By Brian Lee, Trinity Member and Lay Leader
One of my father’s first memories of Christmas was a fire
truck. In the mid-1960s, my father’s family immigrated to the United States
from China and settled in New York City’s Chinatown. The local police station
had a program to give toys to immigrant kids in the neighborhood. My father
fondly recalls receiving a fire truck from a police officer for his first ever
Christmas. Although times were tough for my father’s family as they struggled
to make a new life in the U.S., Christmas was always a time for joy and chance
for him to be a kid.
Growing up, I was not raised in the church. However, we did
have Christmas. At the nudging of some family friends, my parents bought an
artificial Christmas tree and we celebrated Christmas. One of my father’s
friends told him that Christmas was for everyone. Like all children, my
siblings and I grew up being excited this time of year at the prospect of
cookies and presents. As I became older and learned the Christmas story, it
puzzled me. At the time, it was strange to think that God would take on human
form. It was not until I was a college student that I fully understood the
significance of the Incarnation.
I share my father’s story as well as mine because it shows
the invitation that Advent and Christmas presents us. As Christians, we are
invited to share with the world the joy we have found in Jesus and to invite
everyone to celebrate with us whether they believe or not. Jesus’s arrival was
not for any particular group of people, but for all people. We believe that
God’s grace is always at work and is working in all people. During this holy
time, please take this chance to invite the people around you to celebrate the
birth of Christ– whether it’s attending an organ concert, sharing a plate of
delicious cookies, or smiling.
