Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. –2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4, NIV
Unfortunately, not everybody is willing to give man the comfort he needs from time to time. Arrogance, say some. Dependence, say others. Maybe they are too busy to take care of man’s needs. Or they are simply lazy and want to bask in the attention of comfort. Perhaps, they want to actually show comfort, but they are afraid to approach man with trust and freedom and a lending ear. Could they be broken themselves, and looking for comfort man needs, too. Needless to say, not everybody is appreciative or willing to give comfort.
Even them, comfort brings a unique set of anxieties that have no easy answer. Can a simple song work as a pick-me-up? Will a pat on the back, a hug suffice in order to wring a tear or two out of man? Will beer and wine allow man to soothe up to his troubles, maybe forget (or at least, open up with freedom and score once or twice)? Is a game patronizing enough to be liberating? Or a simple truth that they could never handle on their behalf? Can they find a lesser being to exert control and comfort? There are never easy answers, in fact.
And yet, trouble is not quickly forgotten. Man needs a constant reminder that, even if things go wrong in the world, there is still a reason to look for joy in the most dire of circumstances, like a birth in the middle of hay and dung. There can always be peace surrounded by animals licking human ears, looking with wonder what suddenly came in the world. And, even better, is to know that a kingdom of eternal comfort was being born under a tyrant’s backyard.
That is more than enough comfort more me.
Merry Christmas.