I’m so very far from perfect, I can’t see perfect on a clear day. But, I wonder.

You see, Christians are supposed to be different. And, then, I wonder.

Our lovely neighbor, Mirna, a perfectly wonderful Jewish woman and our dear friend for decades, died a couple of years ago. She was loving and adored us as we did her. She and her husband, Lou, were original owners in our neighborhood when we moved in, in 1987, and she survived his death and a number of other serious ailments with an amazing degree of grace. She always gave us a beautiful Christmas present and adored our boys. You can never choose your neighbors but we hit the jackpot with Mirna and she has been sorely missed.

Awhile after she died, her children sold the home and a couple moved in. They are both probably in their latter 50s, a tad younger than the two of us but not by much. As it turned out, they are both practicing Christians although I’m not exactly sure how we came to know that. Occasionally, I hear him singing a well known hymn in the shower with a strong clear voice. Otherwise, we don’t hear them much. Also, occasionally, we interact in front, usually to say hello. But, they are not friendly and it’s pretty clear they don’t want a relationship.

I had occasion to reflect on this, once again tonight, as I watched Tom amble slowly from his driveway, traveling on the sidewalk in front of our house, on his daily journey to the mailbox which is on the far side of our home. He does this after work each day. He’s a heavy set man and walks slowly but that’s not the distinguishing characteristic.

He never smiles and neither does she.

In the two or three years they’ve lived here, I’ve never seen them smile. I don’t think Diane and I go more than a few hours without smiling.

Now, I obviously get that life can be a tremendous burden and I’m not one to judge what difficult challenges other people face. In fact, I know people who face challenges that should bring them to their knees each waking hour.

But, I have seen many of such people beaming with radiance.

What gives?

What do people think that following Jesus is all about? It’s certainly not about wading through all the muck just waiting to give up the ghost. He didn’t teach nor live that. It’s not about following rules and making sure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

No, it’s about an abundance of the the life that God intends for us, regardless of the travails we face.

And, I’m not speaking of material abundance as so many of the so-called “Prosperity Gospel” advocates preach. It’s anything but material abundance. It’s about an inner state, whereby the mind and heart are aligned with God’s will. And, God’s will is about helping us navigate a world of both suffering and joy with him as our Sovereign.

Diane and I know avowed Christians who are filled with spite and envy. Self-professing Jesus-followers who are quick to judge and slow to forgive. They subsist, seemingly, under a cloud. One wonders why and how they missed the boat and it’s a sad thing, indeed.

Yes, the life Jesus lived was one of sorrow. He wept and suffered. But, he also celebrated, laughed and infused joy wherever he went. This came from a heart that did anything but judge but, rather, was structured completely around grace.

I want to reach out to grumpy and dour Christians and ask, “Why are you so mad? So angry? So bereft? Do you spend time with others who suffer terribly and seek to bring a lightness of being into their lives?” Because, that’s what Jesus did.

Jesus said he came to bring the Kingdom of God into this reality. What do people think that means? Do they think that means we glower and cast our eyes downwards? Do they think that means we stumble about our lives, coveting our private spaces and rejecting the abundance that relationships with so many others offers?

I do not walk in another’s shoes and cannot truly know the burdens another bears. But, I know about burdens and I know that we can choose how to bear them, as hard as that can be. Jesus spent a lot of time teaching us about that but I wonder if so many of his professed followers are paying attention. Which makes me sad.

I don’t know how else to greet the wonder of Christmas morning other than to marvel at the joy that there is an Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” There is actually a God who loves us beyond compare and wants us to participate in the glory that is completely available. I have tasted of this glory and it’s an amazing thing to behold.

I hope that our neighbors and others come to know this God they believe in, not as an inanimate object On High, but as a Being who is completely present, available, and ready to delight in us as only He can.

Glory Hallelujah!