I’m a pastor. (“Gump, you’re a genius!”) No, I don’t mean that my job description says “Senior Pastor,” although it does. I mean that when God put me together—temperament, personality, life experiences, calling, and spiritual giftedness—He built a pastor. The thing about being put together as a Pastor is that I can never shut it off. Every situation in which I find myself the sheepdog in me is constantly herding the sheep. (Remind me to tell you about Kimber, my Australian Shepherd, and her constant herding instinct.)

Peter describes this role in 1 Peter 5:

            So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings

            of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd

            the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion,

            but willingly as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not

            domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And

            when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Every situation I find myself in, therefore, brings out this desire to “shepherd the flock.” The key tasks for such shepherding are protect, feed, and lead. The goals for these tasks are spiritual safety, spiritual nourishment, and growth towards Christ-likeness.

With this in mind, I am on high alert during the Christmas season. Each and every Christmas I see Christ-followers harried, distressed, grumpy, and tired. We have packed so many “celebrations” into a four- or five-week window, and wonder why we’re not really “merry and bright.” We put so much pressure on ourselves to make the season “just right,” that we never really enjoy it. We exhaust ourselves, eat way too much sugar, shop until we drop (or punch the cashier in the nose), and then wonder why Christmas just doesn’t seem as fun anymore.

So, here’s my plea. Let’s celebrate Jesus’ birth by choosing to be like Him. Let’s rest when afforded the opportunity (Mark 1:35). Let’s enjoy our friends and family without forcing a Norman Rockwell portrait setting on them (Luke 10:38-42). Let’s give of ourselves, and not just our gifts (Mark 10:45). Let’s take the pressure off of every event to be perfect (John 6:5-6). Let’s love and do good to those who are in our lives just to make trouble (Luke 22:51).