Rev. Mel Williams: Christmas a season of hope

Where do we find hope in this season when many of us are beset with sadness and fear? The holidays are often tough times as we remember loved ones who are no longer with us.

Where do we find uplift? Where do find hope? I’ve concluded that it’s both an inward and outward process.

For Christians the birth of the child Jesus signals that peace and love have come to dwell within and among us. This birth did not happen once and for all long ago; the birth happens within each of us as we deepen our inner life, awakening the peace and love that reside in all of us.

We may fret and worry about our losses, even feeling paralyzed. But at some point we must release the worries and fear.

The birth we celebrate invites us to a child-like trust that subdues fear. We have a choice: to practice loveless fear or fearless love. It is fearless love that pushes us outward.

The gift of Christmas is a coming together of hope and fear. Over and over we stand calmly in the middle, between fear and hope, readying ourselves for the everflowing emergence of trust and love.

In these tough times, we acknowledge the fear and embrace the opportunities that hope offers. After all, the message of the Christmas angel was “Fear not. For behold good tidings of great joy.” That’s good news we can heartily welcome in this season.

This story was originally published December 24, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Rev. Mel Williams: Christmas a season of hope."