Dec 26, 1914
Trenches
“Dear Mother, I am writing from the trenches… In my mouth is a pipe. In the pipe is tobacco. Of course, you say. But wait. In the pipe is German tobacco. Haha, you say, from a prisoner or found in a captured trench. Oh dear, no! From a German soldier. Yes, a live German soldier from his own trench. Yesterday the British & Germans met & shook hands in the Ground between the trenches, & exchanged souvenirs, & shook hands. Yes, all day Xmas day, & as I write. Marvellous, isn’t it?”
-Henry Williamson
This was a letter from the trenches on the British side that recorded an unusual sight of Christmas amidst the brutalities of World War I. In times of deep hatred and chaos, this was nothing short of a miracle! Times have changed. Christmas has become a lot about fun and festivities, cakes and cookies, love and laughter. But surely rival armies could not have come out of their trenches just for a piece of pie! There was certainly something more significant about the day that brought them together. This is the story of that something that took place two millennia ago. It was their story and ours too. It is a story of peace and hope that conquered rivalries and despair.
An Elusive Peace
If you were asked to describe a perfect world, what would it be like? Maybe a world where there is no evil and pain but the fullness of peace and happiness? Well, that is how God created and meant the world to be. But humans made a choice to keep God out of the picture and far away from their lives. As a result, we became enemies of God, blinded by sin, living to satisfy our selfish desires and impulses. It brought to our world pain, suffering, hatred, and loss. It hasn’t spared the rich or poor, the young or old. Even today, many of us wonder why, despite our best efforts, inner peace and contentment always seem beyond our reach. This is actually because separation from God leaves a void in us, which nothing in this world can fill.
The First Christmas
On the first Christmas, God stepped down from his holy habitation into the world we live in. He became like one of us so that He could reach out his hand to a hostile humanity, waging war against him from the trenches of sin. Throughout his journey on Earth, he dwelt, walked and cried with us, healed the sick, comforted the broken and raised the dead. He came so that we would know love and true peace. He died on the cross to take the just punishment for our hostility towards him – to restore the joy and peace that our sin had snatched away from us. The greatest gift of Christmas is not wrapped in glossy paper or shining ribbons; it came wrapped in swaddling clothes. That was Jesus – the hero of the story that could become our very own version of the letter from the trenches.
A Christmas for Everyone
Dear friends, the good news is that this banner of peace that Jesus unfurled still soars over us today. No matter how lost, how broken, how dirty the trenches have made us, God is still reaching out his hand to us. Unlike the Christmas exchanges of the wars which lasted for a short time, Jesus offers us eternal peace, eternal hope, and eternal life, through a never-ending relationship with Him. Christmas is for everyone. But will you let Jesus make this Christmas truly for you as well? Remember, we were never meant to end up in the trenches; we were made to live at peace with God and with ourselves. You just need to invite Jesus into your heart and life, and he will step in with this profound peace.
If you have made a decision or would like to know more, let us know.
We wish you a truly blessed Christmas!
