A certain saintly man named Nicholas decided to throw a great celebration of Christmas, and so he sent invitations to everyone he knew, near and far. To everyone in his address book he sent an invitation, to everyone in his e-mail contact list, to Facebook friends and Instagram and Twitter followers, to everyone in the church directory. He purchased mailing lists; he bought radio time. He invited everybody!
Some of the invitations were received by Scrooges. “Humbug! Christmas!” And they threw the invitations away. Others went to nervous souls who said, “A Christmas party? Maybe if we called it a ‘holiday party’ or, better yet, a ‘winter celebration,’ but a Christmas party? I really can’t attend that. Someone might get upset.” So they stayed home and managed neither to offend nor celebrate. Others received the invitation with rejoicing. “It’s about time somebody threw a REAL Christmas party! I’m sick of ‘winter celebrations’! And so they wrote a letter back saying “We’re with you, Nick! They’re never going to take away OUR Christmas!” And they started a boycott of those stores where they say “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas.” And they wrote and circulated powerful warnings about a great conspiracy to crush our national faith. And when the party came, they were so busy defending their right to celebrate, that they didn’t.
Other folks got the invitation, and immediately their hearts were warmed and their eyes teary, and they were so excited. And they went to the party and had a great time and sang the old songs and heard the old story, and nodded with delight, and when it was over they said, “Wow! That was great. We’ll see you all next year.”
And a few people came to the party, and they sang the songs and they heard the story, and they found in the old message new hope and peace and joy and love, and when they left that party … they were different. They still looked the same. But they were different—more joyous and hopeful and loving and peaceful. Their words were more gracious, their actions more compassionate. They looked at life and their neighbors differently, and everywhere they went, the celebration went with them. Let those who have ears to hear party likewise.