The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

One of my favorite parts of CSM is tithing. At the end of every year, Kristin and I distribute a portion of CSM-Nashville’s income from groups to our ministry
partners. But it’s not the monetary gift that makes this a joyful experience for me (although, let’s be honest, it does feel fantastic); it’s the opportunity to reconnect with the people at the ministry sites….many of whom we may not have seen since early this fall. These people breathe life into our ministry. They are the ones on the frontlines in this fight against poverty and injustice. It is their spirit and vision that reminds me why I do what I do. In them, I see God’s heart.
So many of us have people like this in their lives. People who inspire and challenge us. And yet, how many of us allow ourselves to get distracted by our own lives and lose focus on how important those relationships are?
We live in a world which tries to convince us that stuff connects us to other people; cell phones, internet, coffee shops, money, and most especially the gifts that we give.
During the holidays, it is easy spend most of our time focused on the material aspects of the season. So this Christmas, my holiday prayer is for us to remember and apply some of the lessons we learn from the multitude of Christmas movies. These are the same lessons we hope our volunteers learn during a CSM experience.
-We have no idea the impact our life has on others. (It’s a Wonderful Life)
-Greed can lead us to walk the earth invisible to those around us and alone. Monetary wealth does not make for a “rich” life. (A Christmas Carol or, my personal favorite, Scrooged)
-Don’t judge a person because they’re different from you. We all have a purpose. (Rudolph the Red–Nosed Reindeer)
Most importantly, we must remember that this is day of Jesus’ birth. Let’s celebrate by honoring Him through our actions, our words, and our relationships. Merry Christmas!

-Jes Williams, CSM Nashville City Director