Merry Christmas

December 25th marks the 15th day, working 12 hours each, of my 21 day schedule here in the Arctic. We’re four days past winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the sun’s begun its slow ascent, at 3 seconds per day, back toward the horizon where it’ll eventually make its first and very short appearance again in January. The temperature’s dipped -15° below zero with a windchill factor of -45°. The wind’s howling at 31 mph creating a snow globe effect seriously limiting visibility. Prudhoe Bay is certainly a unique place to celebrate this festive day.

​For years, at Christmas, my home looked much like other’s do this time of year. I am the oldest of six and I raised four children of my own - so, holidays were filled with family and friends and food, lots and lots of food. My fondest memories are of the times when I’d host gatherings. We’d provide the main course and loved ones would bring their favorite concoctions to contribute to the feast. Kiddos ran wild, ruckus competitions took place at the game table, music cheered the atmosphere, a fire’d blaze in the back yard and snow machines, pulling sleds filled with kids, roared through the lower field near the house.

When I empty nested, Christmas took on a different shape and tonality. My children dispersed to other countries and various places in the lower 48 and, too, they began building their own homes with their own conventions. So, I’ve spent many a December 25th outside of the scope of tradition.

While my sons were stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, I spent Christmas staving off worry and praying for their safety. I’ve spent Christmas trying to recreate, with others, a sense of family that I’d known and loved so much from the past. I’ve spent Christmas drinking wine in a hot tub on the deck of a chalet under the night sky in the mountains listening to music and laughing with friends, I’ve spent Christmas grieving loss and I’ve also spent it ill and alone in my bed while others made merry. I’ve spent Christmas hopping from parties to gatherings celebrating at each place I’d been invited. I’ve spent Christmas slumber partying with ex-in-laws so the grandkiddos could wake to the day with their loved ones. And I’ve spent Christmas snuggled up on a couch at a friend’s, who too was alone, where we opted out on a party invitation and happily spent the eve eating canned beef and watching anything but Christmas movies.

December 25th is an important day for many of us and we each hold our own ideas on how this day will unfold. If you’d have asked me six months ago how I envisioned Christmas 2018, sub-zero temperatures and arctic gear would not have come to mind. My children and their families are in three different states and I am hundreds of miles from parties and caroling and people I love. But what I’ve come to understand, is that when I pressure Christmas to produce traditions of my choosing, Christmas presses back and asks . . . what is the focus of and intent for this day?

My eleven year old granddaughter text me from California at 1:00 am this Christmas morning - as she knows I’m awake working through the night. She wished me Merry Christmas and stated she is sorry I am spending Christmas alone.

Love, love is at the heart of Christmas.

Before I close my eyes and sleep this day away in ready for another night of work, I’ll read, just as I have many Christmases before, the story of the love that makes, not only this day, but every day so very sweet.

Merry Christmas xoxoxo

Luke 2:1-20

“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and laying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the hightest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about the Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen just as had been told them.”

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation”