<p class="bodytext">‘Where’s last year’s Crib-set ? Where’s the Christmas tree? Where’s the decoration box?’ These questions resonate in most homes as Christmas Day approaches. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Before the ‘readymade’ days, there was also the rush to the tailor to ensure our clothes were ready ! </p>.<p class="bodytext">The Christmas spirit endures, even amidst all this stress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But after Christmas, when we begin repacking decorations do we forget to re-pack our lives? </p>.<p class="bodytext">Re-packing is Renewal. True renewal demands letting-go of un-forgiveness, greed, selfishness, and narrow-mindedness. Jesus came to breakdown those barriers that separate us from each other. The Christmas story of Jesus’ Birth began in Bethlehem’s stable culminated on Calvary with Jesus’ Crucifixion and continues to this day since the Resurrection of Christ.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Christmas is not a calendar date but a re-start point of a journey of service to humanity.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The story of Artaban by Henry van Dykes initially published in 1895 may have faded into oblivion. But here is an ‘anglicised’ version. It is the traditional story of three wise men offering gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to pay homage to Jesus.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But there’s another wise man named Artaban who lost his way to Bethlehem’s stable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his sojourn he met human misery in many forms; sickness and disease, hatred and violence, poverty, divisions and strife between peoples. Artaban did all he can to alleviate human suffering, consoling the broken-hearted, making peace wherever he could and extending charity to the poor. He, at last, hears people crying near Jerusalem. His heart is moved with emotion. He enquires and finds that a man named Jesus is being nailed to the cross. He then hears the comforting words from the cross, “Whatever you did to the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me” (Mathew 25:40) </p>.<p class="bodytext">Artaban finally found Jesus, the one he had sought his entire life, and an overwhelming peace filled his heart. When the angels greeted the shepherds in Bethlehem, the first announcement was of ‘Peace’ “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men (Luke 2:13-15).</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Peace becomes the primary focus of the religion we practice, we break -down walls that separate us and build bridges to connect with each other. Only a spiritual willingness can open the door to peace – between spouses, families, friends, colleagues, communities and people of all faiths.</p>
<p class="bodytext">‘Where’s last year’s Crib-set ? Where’s the Christmas tree? Where’s the decoration box?’ These questions resonate in most homes as Christmas Day approaches. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Before the ‘readymade’ days, there was also the rush to the tailor to ensure our clothes were ready ! </p>.<p class="bodytext">The Christmas spirit endures, even amidst all this stress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But after Christmas, when we begin repacking decorations do we forget to re-pack our lives? </p>.<p class="bodytext">Re-packing is Renewal. True renewal demands letting-go of un-forgiveness, greed, selfishness, and narrow-mindedness. Jesus came to breakdown those barriers that separate us from each other. The Christmas story of Jesus’ Birth began in Bethlehem’s stable culminated on Calvary with Jesus’ Crucifixion and continues to this day since the Resurrection of Christ.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Christmas is not a calendar date but a re-start point of a journey of service to humanity.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The story of Artaban by Henry van Dykes initially published in 1895 may have faded into oblivion. But here is an ‘anglicised’ version. It is the traditional story of three wise men offering gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to pay homage to Jesus.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But there’s another wise man named Artaban who lost his way to Bethlehem’s stable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his sojourn he met human misery in many forms; sickness and disease, hatred and violence, poverty, divisions and strife between peoples. Artaban did all he can to alleviate human suffering, consoling the broken-hearted, making peace wherever he could and extending charity to the poor. He, at last, hears people crying near Jerusalem. His heart is moved with emotion. He enquires and finds that a man named Jesus is being nailed to the cross. He then hears the comforting words from the cross, “Whatever you did to the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me” (Mathew 25:40) </p>.<p class="bodytext">Artaban finally found Jesus, the one he had sought his entire life, and an overwhelming peace filled his heart. When the angels greeted the shepherds in Bethlehem, the first announcement was of ‘Peace’ “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men (Luke 2:13-15).</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Peace becomes the primary focus of the religion we practice, we break -down walls that separate us and build bridges to connect with each other. Only a spiritual willingness can open the door to peace – between spouses, families, friends, colleagues, communities and people of all faiths.</p>