Contemplating Christmas

Fellow Labourers-

This is indeed a soul searching piece as we contemplate Christmas. Have you ever noticed that at this time of the year it seems as if your work load has increased and the demand on your life takes a new meaning. But, I would suggest we need not continue down these old paths. We continue down these paths to our own detriment because we fail to heed Jesus' advise not to worry about tomorrow. The Christmas season can bring on stress so beware.

Let us use this season to examine our attitude. There is a tremendous power in attitude. This power can be used negatively or positively. As we consider the New Year let us develop a new attitude towards the things that causes us to feel stress. The celebrated psychologists Lazarus and Folkman concluded that there are three distinct ways that we can relate to the agents of stress in our lives:

• We can see them as an irreparable damage which has already occurred
• We can see them as a danger
• We can see them as a challenge

How are you going to see them? This all boils down to attitude. As you contemplate the season relax and do not try to do one year's work in a few days. Remember the season is not about us it is about the Christ who came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Stop feeling as if you owe the whole world a gift. If that is how you are feeling, might I suggest you give some love. For God so love that he gave---.

Pax Vobiscum

Robert Stewart