Tomorrow, over two billion Christians throughout the world and others will celebrate Christmas, which, for them, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

For many people who are not religious and do not profess the Christian faith, all of this sounds like gobbledygook, abstract nonsense, or a flight of fantasy. The person who regards himself or herself an atheist will certainly regard these as unintelligible utterances unworthy of a trained, mature mind. These negative assessments of a core principle of the Christian understanding of God are today aided and abetted, probably more than they have ever been, by modern communication technologies which pour scorn and suspicion on any notion that cannot be supported by hard scientific evidence.

One can have an appreciation for those who do not believe in Christmas as indicative of the virgin birth of Jesus. Even within Christianity there are those who oppose this idea and have virulently criticised it. Some Christian groups do not subscribe to this view. Indeed, they do not celebrate Christmas and see it as just another day, as one person told me recently in a conversation on the topic.

To be sure, there is no precise date for the birth of Christ. Locating it, as the Western world does, on December 25 does not hold any real significance other than identifying a day when people all over the world can pause, reflect, catch up on missed interaction with family and friends and hopefully get some good rest, if they can. This is how the secular world largely sees Christmas.

But for the Christian this is not just a day, but an occasion to celebrate an event — God becoming incarnate in Jesus Christ and living among us full of grace and truth. Yes, Christians will do a lot of things that the secular world will enjoy, whether it is meeting with friends and family for joviality, enjoying the good food and wines that are on offer at this time, and enjoying music at parties that they may not have tuned in to during the year. It is the opportunity to let down one’s hair and exhale as we come to the end of the year that makes this season so significant for people, whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not. It is very necessary that this be so, and it is important for people’s well-being that they are able to do so.

So no effort is spared in saving for this day. There is no other season in the year when this intense preparation is carried out on a commercial level. Merchants whose businesses were registering red up to September are eager with anticipation for that green after the holiday has passed. One cannot forget that there are those who become indebted, some heavily so, because they desire a “good Chrismus”.

But in enjoying the bacchanal and festivity, the true believer knows, or ought to know, that there is something uniquely special about the season and his or her life is made even more significant by focusing on it. For him or her it is not just another day of the 365 in the year. Advent, reflecting on the second coming of Christ, was a preparation for this. It is an opportunity to rediscover self and reflect on the things that are important to us. It is engaging a process of decluttering of our lives, resolving to get rid of the debris and clutter that depersonalises us. It is a striving to find that better self that has eluded many.

This year we celebrate Christmas in the shadow of a devastating hurricane. For many in the southern and northern areas of the country who were badly affected, this Christmas will not be like others past. There are many who are still without shelter, who cannot get a decent meal, and whose future seems really dim. Mental illness, in the face of an uncertain future, will be the constant companion for many.

It should not take a natural disaster to bring us to a greater awareness of God, and certainly not one which results in the colossal loss of lives, livelihoods, and property. But it does force all of us to re-examine our priorities and think again about the things that are important and which give real meaning to our lives. As important as bread is, the Good Book declares that we cannot live by bread alone.

So while we must rebuild and rebuild better, it is necessary for us to pause, whether we were directly affected or not, and take a second look at where we are on life’s journey. God entering into the human condition as man assures us that he was not prepared to wait for us to be perfect. He is willing to meet us where we are, in our vulnerabilities and at the point of our fractured humanity.

The experience of birth in the manger and the announcement of the birth of the Son of God to shepherds tell us that God has an abiding interest in the marginalised and those who are pushed to the periphery of society. He is willing to meet us right where we are, warts and all. Renewal and transformation begin where we are, not where we think we should be. Where are you this Christmas? One hopes that this Christmas will be that turning point for your life.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storms; Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. Check out his podcast — Mango Tree Dialogues — on his YouTube channel. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.

Raulston Nembhard