I live in the same Mississippi town where I was born. Besides my years in college, this is the only place I’ve ever known as home. Some people might not agree, but I think there’s something really special about that. When I go into stores, I’m almost certain to run into old friends who I’ve known most of my life. When I turn on the local news or look at the paper, I see faces that I love. When I go to the hospital or doctors’ offices, there’s a good chance I’ll be cared for by an old classmate. When I call businesses, I hear familiar voices on the other end who know me by name. When I dine out, I may spot a former teacher sitting across the way who still remembers my face. I cross paths with people, everywhere, who have some sort of connection with my parents or my brothers or my children. Our kids are grown and gone now and Davis and I are free to live just about anywhere we choose, but it takes a long time to grow this kind of sense of home. In today’s loosely connected world, those things are worth a whole lot to me. 

Like most cities and towns across the country, we’ve experienced an increase in crime in the last few years. I probably wouldn’t feel very safe going back to some of the places where my memories take me- especially after dark- but I’d guess that would be true of most places in our country. Invariably, a social media post will herald the news of the latest theft or gunfire and a predictable chorus of commenters will follow. There are always the same types of remarks that are shared. “Our town is a lost cause” - “Only here” -  “I need to move” - “This place is no longer safe” - “I don’t go out at night unless I just have to.” Because I love my hometown, I kind of take all of that personally. Sometimes, I even think that the bad stuff blinds them to ever seeing the good things that happen. And I wonder if those people even watch or read the national news. If they did, they’d know bad headlines are definitely not unique to our town. Not even to our time. 

We’ve been making splashy “headlines” since Cain and Abel. Man was only 2 generations into this whole life thing and we were already plotting and killing and covering our tracks. And if there was Yahoo News or a Bethlehem Community Watch Facebook page back in Jesus’ day, can you imagine the horrible lead stories? For starters, “Local Infant Boys Slaughtered at Herod’s Command.” The fallen world Jesus came into was brutal. Barbaric. Evil. Oppressive. And when He left it, it was still thrashing about in just as much wickedness.

I think we’ve become addicted to bad news today. We like to repeat it and share it and go on about how life isn’t like it used to be and people are worse than they’ve ever been. I’m certainly guilty of it. It’s contagious. We’re prone to whitewash the past and remember it as the standard of perfection. And we like to imagine there are perfectly ideal places out there that are better than where we are- free of any kind of evil or troubles. The bad stuff holds our attention the longest. It’s why they put it on the front page. It’s what keeps us reading and watching and complaining and can make us discontent- wishing for another time or place other than where we’ve been planted. 

But, Christmas isn’t about bad news. In the middle of all the bad “headlines” they were facing then, the angel came to the shepherds in the fields and said, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10 In all of their oppression and frustration, they needed some good news more than anything. Not the kind that is bumped by a bigger story the next day. The kind that would bring hope for all time and eternity. They didn’t need the angel to tell them how bad things were- they were well aware. They needed some good news that would shift their focus. And in our day and with our headlines, the good news of their day is still the good news and we can’t share good news if we’re always talking about bad news. Yes, it exists. Yes, we should stand against evil every chance we get. Yes, we should always work toward changes for the good. But- people need to hear us tell the good news of the gift of our Savior more than they need to hear us rehash the bad news of the day. We all get plenty of that. The world is craving the refreshing hope that the good news brings. 

This Christmas, I hope we won’t let the bad news blind us to the good news of Jesus. I hope our lips will celebrate the good more than they lament the bad. Jesus warned us, a long time ago, that we should expect troubles and bad times in this fallen world and Christmas is all about overcoming the bad with the good. I hope the way we talk and share and live, this holiday season, will testify that we believe in the power of the good news to prevail over the bad. 

“How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news.” Romans 10:15

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” Romans 1:16

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Act 2:21

I’ll just tell y’all- I’ve got Christmas-itis really bad. Right after Thanksgiving, I was busy working and didn’t write and now I’m just busy playing. Most of my obligations have been fulfilled and I’m really enjoying this season with my friends and family. So, consider this like a note to the teacher from my mom to please excuse my absences through the end of the year. I’ll be celebrating the good news of Christmas and then heading to the mountains with the fam for the last week of 2021. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours! May God bless you all! 

JONI