Laughing and Loving

​Q. What do you get when you mix a Christmas tree with an iPad?
 A. A pineapple!
A typically corny Christmas bonbon joke – but part of the joyful frivolity and togetherness of Christmas.
Isn’t it great to laugh? Is there anything better than a good laugh in a loving environment? I believe it’s the best way to celebrate Christmas.
An international art collection, ‘Jesus Laughing and Loving’, showcases artists’ contributions from 16 countries, cutting across the usual depictions of Jesus. In them, we see a communal person, whose visage reflects the artist’s ethnicity, and who loves life! While Jesus didn’t actually experience ice skating with friends, nor a fishing adventure in the Solomon Islands, the paintings reflect a communal person enjoying life amongst us. Scripture records Jesus as being a guest at weddings and dinners while being involved in a typical community. His charisma must have been enormous to hold crowds of 5,000 enthralled for hours. Jesus was far more than a crucified ‘man of sorrows’.
Christmas can be the loneliest time of year for some people. The joy others find in the company of those around them, accentuates what they deeply desire, but lack. We weren’t created to be alone, but the structure and values of our society have an isolating effect. Can we help reverse that effect this Christmas season? Who could you invite to a celebratory activity of yours? What charitable Christmas initiative can you support?
This year, as we sing ‘Joy to the World, the Lord is come’, let us joyfully celebrate Jesus, the one who showed us the way to have ‘life in all its fullness’. Such celebrations will happen on Christmas Day/Eve at a church near you. Lane Cove Uniting (corner Figtree St/Centennial Ave) welcomes you to Café Church serving up carols and a Christmas morning tea at 9.30am on 24/12.
Wishing you joy, love and laughter this Christmas.