RECLAIMING CHRISTMAS

The Christmas tree is up and decorated in my living room (nevermind that it has been there since October). I love the soft glow of the white lights bouncing off of the coordinated red and silver decorations. There are gifts nestled under the tree waiting for their recipients, and while I know Christmas is going to look a little different this year, my place at least, is rebelling and in no shortage of Christmas Spirit (thanks to my sister). But if I’ve learned anything this year, it is the necessity of reclaiming. And not only the necessity, but also what it really means.

I love studying words, and looking at their roots. Sometimes, I feel like having a definition or an origin can just open up a whole new world of meaning. At times I am surprised about what I will find, especially with words that are common, often used, or ones that seem to have a clear definition already. “Reclaim” ended up being one of those words. At first, the definition was not surprising:

re·claim | /rəˈklām/ | verb | retrieve or recover (something previously lost, given, or paid); obtain the return of…

But then I read about the origin and I began to see this from a different view.

Reclaim comes from the Latin reclamare, ‘cry out against’

And that is when it hit me.

I used to think of reclaiming something as simple as picking up an object that was left, or refinishing or repurposing an antique, or something along those lines. Certainly, action was involved in the reclaiming process, but until I looked into the root, I did not consider that in order to reclaim, you may have to contend for it.

2020 has been a year. For some of us, it has hit differently than others, but we have all been affected in one way or another. Our way of life, our “normal” day-to-day looks very different that it ever has. There are some things we have given up, maybe intentionally, but others may have just fallen by the way-side. Still, there are some things that have been taken from us. I believe it is time for us to reclaim.

Sitting here looking at the lights on the tree, I’m reminded of what that first Christmas must have looked like. God becoming man. The night sky filled with stars and angels proclaiming the birth of Christ. And as I read through the book of Luke, I pray that I will reclaim the wonder of Christmas. I think about Jesus

…leaving his priestly robes to be wrapped in flesh,

…leaving peace to enter into our chaos,

…leaving perfection to enter into our brokenness and pain

- all because of love. He came to rescue us. He came to RECLAIM us. “He became sin, who knew no sin, so that we could become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

This miracle of Love - God becoming man - the reason we celebrate Christmas is later made perfect in the cross. Reclaiming is a journey. Maybe this season, you need to reclaim Christmas. It isn’t a passive action. That root, “to cry out against” painted a new picture in my mind. It is contending for what was lost, and a faith in God for what he has promised, and demanding from the enemy everything he stole.

This Christmas - RECLAIM the wonder, RECLAIM the joy, RECLAIM the peace. Reclaim Christmas in your heart today.