Breakpoint Cultivating Christmas Wonder
Dec 18, 2025
Explore T.S. Eliot's intriguing reflections on Christmas, highlighting the mix of wonder and fear it brings. The discussion emphasizes the importance of childlike amazement and the need to preserve that awe in churches. Delve into the darker aspects of the nativity story and how they contribute to its depth. There's a call to maintain expectations during the holiday rush, connecting Christ's first coming to hope for his second. Ultimately, embrace a humble faith as a pathway to understanding God’s promises.
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Recover Childlike Wonder
- T.S. Eliot captures multiple attitudes toward Christmas, urging retention of the child's amazement before the tree.
- John Stonestreet highlights wonder as recognizing ignorance and longing to know in simplicity.
Preserve Marvel And Expectation
- Do preserve a child's ability to marvel at Emmanuel and the Christmas story instead of dismissing it.
- Practice waiting and expectation so annual memories can concentrate into deep joy and reverent hope.
The Dark Side Of Christmas
- Christmas contains a dark side including fear in the nativity narrative from angelic terror to Herod's cruelty.
- Eliot and Stonestreet remind listeners that fear and wonder co-exist in the Christmas story.