The Christmas carol sings, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but it’s also the time when the ugliness of humanity is most revealed. I try to play nice by letting a car in front of me—yet they don’t give me the thank you wave. Everyone knows you give a nod or a wave to show appreciation when another driver lets you in! Selfish shoppers grab the last sale item, pushing another shopper out of the way in the process. The more a person makes it about self, the more hectic the holiday becomes.
But I also see the opposite at work. People with a mission in mind. To spread some joy. They are perfecting their “othering.” They open doors for people laden-down with heavy packages at the post office. They wish the bell-ringer “Merry Christmas!” rather than avoiding eye contact. They slow down enough to enjoy the meaning behind the moment. They have discovered Christmas peace. They live out “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”
It’s no coincidence when it comes to othering, the Bible shows us we need to master what it means to have patience, and peace.