If I asked you what you wanted for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or your birthday, what would you say? Now you might answer: a very expensive car, a million dollars, enough money to pay off all my bills, a home I own in Santa Barbara, a good job, a husband, a wife, or just plain fun. When we were younger this question was perhaps easier to answer. Then we wanted simple things like toys, clothes, or video games. But now what do you want?
No I mean it. What do you really want? If you could have anything in the world that you wanted as a gift right now, what would it be? I thought about this question recently, and I think I received an answer. As I watched from a 180 degree view of the southeastern Santa Barbara skies, l experienced an amazing thing. I sensed the very presence of Jesus.
During this season many of us, whether Christian or not, reflect on just what it means to celebrate Christmas. For me the highlight of celebrating came just two years ago when I was invited to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. I purchased my ticket, took off from LAX, and flew first to London and then on to Tel Aviv. My invitation was so sudden that I did not have much time to plan, so I literally landed in Israel without a place to stay, trusting that I would find a hotel. Well, my trust and faith were richly rewarded as I ended up at the Tel Aviv Renaissance Hotel in a beautiful room overlooking the Mediterranean Sea! But the glory of the trip was actually visiting the Church of the Nativity in Palestine.