On this Christmas Eve, I find myself returning again and again to the angel's words to the frightened shepherds, "Fear not! Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people! Unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord..." It is that "for all the people" that rings so loudly for me on this Christmas Eve of 2020. Let's be honest--2020 has been a year that has marked every one of us. A pandemic wreaked havoc with normalcy. An election wreaked havoc with our national community. We are still very much in the midst of all of it. So many families are doing Christmas differently this year, forsaking being together so that hopefully next year we can pull out all the stops and really blow the roof off Christmas. So many of our oldest loved ones are going to have to be with family via ZOOM instead of sitting in a living room surrounded by grands and great-grands. And, yes, many families will be gathering with some empty places at the table
