Trauma Ministry

The Holiest of Christmases

In the mid-1980s I had a powerful experience with God. For eight weeks my feet hardly touched the ground as I felt a spiritual chemotherapy gently burning and glowing in my body. I was energized in almost everything I did. One day as God’s light seemed to shine through me with the power of an X-ray, I saw black spots all over my being. I blurted out to Him, “If that’s what it’s like to be that close to you, I don’t want to be that close!” Immediately, I gasped! If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought I’d committed the unpardonable sin. The black spots did not have any particular label of sin to them. They showed me just how far I was away from God’s holiness. I did not tell anyone about that moment for a long time, not even my wife. Only years later did I risk revealing that upsetting moment to trusted friends who quickly let me know I wasn’t the first nor the only person to ever feel that way and say such scary words, asking for distance from God. Perhaps, I should have remembered Luke 5:8 when Peter said to Jesus, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man.”

Fast forward to today. As I was preparing to send Christmas cards, I began to reflect on what I wanted to say. I knew it would reflect my favorite carol, “O Holy Night.” I did not want to use the word “Merry” as in Merry Christmas because it seems to be a cousin to happiness which depends on which way the wind is blowing. I yearn more for joy which is richer, deeper, and dissipates, needing to be replenished often. That’s when I lasered in on this greeting that I offer you, a friend to Trauma Ministry: May this Christmas be the HOLIEST ever for you and your family!

I have to admit, I do not know at the outset of sending this Christmas greeting what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, smells like, or tastes like. I just know that it will involve intimate closeness to the God who became little so that we can experience His great BIG love for us through Jesus! The child in me yearns for a closeness in the lap of my Lord, not asking for anything other that the safety and security of His presence and listening to His voice speaking comfort and love to me. How that unfolds in the coming days I will let you know as I seek the HOLIEST Christmas ever!

In the strength of that CLOSENESS I look forward to working with you in the coming year as we become the Face of God and the Body of Christ, close to the lives of survivors of trauma, abuse, and neglect. They, too, are yearning for a closeness that was interrupted by the unspeakable. It’s time that yearning is fulfilled in their hearts and lives. Join me and Trauma Ministry in providing that closeness.

Donna is an excellent writer and presenter on trauma. Enjoy this important snippet of her expertise.

How Genes Respond to Trauma and Chronic Stress Some of our genes, like the ones that control hair and eye color, are fixed, but others change in response to our environment. In this clip from the 2019 Car...