Every year one of the greatest conspiracy theories in the world goes completely unnoticed by almost all theorists. People around the world blindly succumb to Christmas rhetoric and tradition without any pause or trepidation.
Like clockwork after Halloween and with no regard for Thanksgiving, Christmas décor begins to pop up everywhere, parties are planned, cookies are baked and the religious and non-religious alike are all inclined to do something special to celebrate the season. We sing carols and go to church with our family; for many of us, this is the ideal time of year to be charitable. Our children’s hearts are filled with expectation and their eyes are filled with wonder.
No, I am not talking about Santa Claus or Elves on shelves although that is a part of it. Those who believe in Santa Claus know to be extra good, and children who wake up to mischievous elves are delighted by their parents’ shenanigans. But why? Why are we so willingly caught up in all the hoopla of the holidays?
Is it purely memory-based? Do we adults want our children to taste a little bit of what we experienced? I would say that is true for some of us, but certainly not all. Is it because we want to have fun and this time of year reminds us to let our hair down and enjoy our lives? Fun is an essential part of a happy life, but I don’t believe that fun inspires our spirit of generosity.
How is it that most of us are warmly tucked into a blanket of goodwill every December?
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”― Hamilton Wright Mabie
I believe all of this is rooted in intention, not ours, but God’s. Every year, we are reminded of God’s love for humanity. When we feed the hungry at Christmas, they are reminded of God’s love. When we help a single mother with her children’s Christmas gifts, she is reminded that she is not alone.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
One might read and say, “Well, I don’t believe in God.” Maybe that is true, but I guarantee that you believe in love. 1 John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
God is love.
Every human that has walked the earth has had an inner desire to love something, to be loved by something, or both. We are wired for love. We are called to love. ear after year, we celebrate love with enthusiasm, generosity and goodwill. Love doesn’t need you to be religious. Love doesn’t need you to reciprocate. Love simply requires a commitment to peace. Love asks you to be brave enough to face your shortcomings, humble enough to admit when you are wrong, empathetic enough to see the world through someone else’s eyes of experience, and gracious enough to extend forgiveness.
"Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other."
Romans 12:10
Every Christmas we are more willing to set our differences aside and somehow how our eyes are opened to the possibility of giving…we are paying attention and embracing opportunities to extend goodwill to our fellow man, not realizing that we have been swept up in one of the most masterful conspiracies in human history.
The great love conspiracy.
So Merry Christmas to you and in the words of Ebeneezer Scrooge, “May you honor Christmas in your heart and try to keep it all year.”
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