Think back over the last 365 days, since last Christmas.  Think of all the things that have happened: a global pandemic, civic unrest, a presidential election, etc.

How do you know you were paying attention to what really mattered?

It’s easy to be distracted by what the world considers important: politics and war and wealth and the like.

But, what if God is up to something else entirely?  What if God is at work in other ways? What if you and I on our own are completely unable to tell what’s truly important from what is just distraction?

 What if you’ve been distracted this entire year and missed what’s really been happening?

 After all, when the first Christmas came it happened in a surprising and unexpected way.

 And they all missed it.

Sermon References:

•  Painting: “The Census at Bethlehem,” by Pieter Brueghel the Elder

•  Good 48 minutes BBC documentary on the painting: “Private Life of a Masterpiece: Census at Bethlehem”

•  The Little Ice Age

•  Gallup survey: “Americans' Mental Health Ratings Sink to New Low”