Imperfection

With December comes the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. At church that means advent calendars, the Sharing Tree, Unity concert and of course pageant is prepped and ready.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the children’s pageant. In this open, walk on pageant every child is encouraged to take a part in telling the story of Christ’s birth. I love the costumes and the singing and the waving of light sticks, the children’s voices and their dancing, and I love how messy it is.

Don’t get me wrong, our children share their talents with us, and they transport all of us as they lead us in worship that is at times solemn and beautiful. Our staff and volunteers do an amazing job of organizing costumes, preparing music, choreographing dancers and planning with families and children to make sure that everyone is welcome and included- but in the pageant itself- it’s the little moments of imperfection that remind me of who we are as God’s children.

It’s the strange costume combinations (donkey ears and angel wings), kids who decide at the last minute to run off to sit with mom, kids who really want to be a part of the pageant but are afraid that they might be too old that remind me of God’s grace. In these moments it’s easy to know that imperfections don’t take away from the pageant- they make it what it is. It’s easy to feel God’s grace in the stunning realization that God is smiling on all of it. 

In our yearly striving for a beautifully decorated house and lovely gatherings with family and friends, the right gifts, the tree- I hope that we can also remember the imperfect, lovely faces of children who have come to lead us in worshiping God- imperfect just like us. 

This Advent as we prepare our hearts and our homes and our children to welcome Christ in our midst- I hope that when we look at the faces at the manger- all of the faces- that  we can came to see ourselves there too.