ALL DIFFERENT, ALL THE SAME

Our daughters are scattered, much to our chagrin. But that is life in this world today. We find our home where we find work. For the past few years we have tried to gather our daughters and their families at our home the second weekend in December to celebrate a family Christmas. We have yet to succeed in gathering all five at one time, again, such is life and work in this world today. We are grateful for what we can do.

What we were also grateful this Christmas that all our daughters were able to be in their church for Christmas. When we spoke with them about their experiences, they were all different and yet they were all the same. Two daughters worshipped in a little, white-clapboard building in a small college town where the “family-type” church gathers each Sunday.

Another daughter worshipped with a growing congregation in a modern church building: the rear of the church consisted of plate glass windows that looked out on the nearby lake. The congregation followed the service by looking up at two wide-screens attached to the wall upon which the Book of Common Prayer was projected as well as the hymns to be sung. The music was led by a synthesizer, guitars and other instruments.

Another daughter worshiped at the early, well-attended Christmas Eve Service at her multi-lingual, multi-racial parish. The congregation’s annual Christmas Pageant began the evening, the highlight of which was Joseph dropping Baby Jesus while he was trying to hand the infant to Mary. No harm done, fortunately, as grandson Carter was not baby Jesus who, thankfully, was just a doll baby. The next day Daughter #1 (as she always signs herself) and her sons worshipped at that same church along with seven other people including the priest.

On Christmas Eve I celebrated the Eucharist in the cathedral-like church in the blue-collar community I serve as Priest-in-Charge. We had triple our normal Sunday numbers which made the large building look at least rather full. Joining us was a hired brass ensemble and several volunteer choir members from the local Lutheran church to help make the service very festive.

Five services: all different and all the same. Every Christmas service is different. No two are alike. And yet each service is the same. That is true not only on Christmas but every Sunday.

It is also true about us human beings. My wife has been delving into our ancestry. What she has learned is, of course, that we are all different. No two human beings are exactly alike. And yet, we are all the same. Geneticists tell us that we are 99% alike as human beings. The differences, while important and what distinguish one from another, are, in the end, minimal. Unfortunately and sadly, over the course of history we human beings have spent an inordinate amount of time emphasizing our differences and wreaking all sorts of mayhem and havoc in the process.

My hope and prayer for 2015 is that we, the world over, recognize that while we are all different, in the end, we are all the same. That is the only way to bring peace to this world.