Muse: Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas, folks! (After all, it is still Christmas for those of you who reside in the States.)

As much as I love the reflections, hope and peace that the season of Advent brings, I often get depressed during the Christmas week. It is no different this year.

Why? First, it happens to be the last week of the year. Another year filled with good memories as well as the sad... difficulties and yet breakthroughs. Despite the downs, I have grown to like the year 2013 (it sure took me long though) and I am now reluctant to bid it farewell. Oh well, I believe that I would find year 2014 just as interesting as 2013... but.... I am just being too sentimental. Second, Christmas is a stressful time of the year for me, because there are just too many ministry commitments to fulfill at one go (not great at multi-tasking under pressure, I am) ... too many loose ends to tie up (with regards to work/deadlines)... and just when I want to sit down and spend some unhurried moments with Jesus (who is the reason for the season), I would remember that I have not shopped for Christmas presents, at least, for my loved ones. Third, Christmas is when the shopping malls are decked with the brightest reds, golds, silvers and greens (an overload of my senses), and play songs that make me feel strangely lonely. And melancholic.

There, there.... I'm sorry if I sounded Scroogey. I do appreciate Christmas, however, for the meaningful times spent with family and close friends, the wonderful presents that I am blessed with each year and of course, the treasured reminders that Jesus, the Light of the World has shone into our darkness, never to be overcome. Unto us, a Saviour has been born. He has died, He is risen... and He will come again. Amen.

What did we do this Christmas?

Ben and I spent most of Christmas Eve working (what were we thinking, right?), doing last-minute shopping for presents... and on the night before Christmas, we attended a Christmas Eve liturgical service at St. Georges Anglican Church (thanks to a friend's invitation). We were at Trinity for Christmas Service the next morning, went on a date at Gurney Paragon in the afternoon (after my nap) and had dinner with Ben's family in the evening. Yes, it was quite a lovely Christmas Day after all.

Now that Christmas 2013 is over, it's back to my DOGAC paper I go.