I think I have finally recovered from the busyness of Christmas! Although December was several months ago, I still find myself recuperating from such a busy season. The month of December is always so full that the busyness of the season limits the opportunity for the advent to truly take root in our hearts. On so many levels, it feels as though Christmas has been hijacked by commercialism, a lack of reverence for such a holy day, and multi-tasking in an effort to get everything done. We are supposed to celebrate Christmas, but we are not supposed to remember why. And we find that Christ is just as unwelcome in our world today as when he was born.

On our trip to the Holy Land, I couldn't wait to get to Bethlehem, located just 10 KM from Jerusalem. I had anticipated that traveling to the birth place of Christ would be overwhelming. I didn't realize that to get to Bethlehem, which is now controlled by the Palestinian authority, we would have to pass through the border of armed guards coming on to our bus to ensure there were no Israelis with us. It was overwhelming, but with sadness, not joy.

When we arrived at the Church of the Nativity, the oldest standing church in the holy land, we were told that it is believed that this is the actual place where Jesus was born. We walked through a large courtyard to get to the church entrance. There were thousands of people everywhere—priests, pilgrims and tourists and lots of vendors. Commercialism in Bethlehem! This is not the “little town of Bethlehem” that we sing about.

Inside, the ornate church is filled with monolithic columns, mosaic floors, lamps, figures of saints, sacred ornaments and candles. This is a very different sanctuary than I am used to. Everyone wants to see the “star” that marks the spot where Jesus was born. Because the crowds were great, we were herded down to the grotto area to see “the spot.” It was difficult to feel anything sacred in these moments. This was not the Bethlehem I had envisioned.

As a group we found a corner to just sit and find silence. We had to seek out this quiet spot in the midst of the throngs of people. Once we were in this quiet place together, we said the Lord's Prayer and sang a few carols. This became our Bethlehem moment. We needed to seek out that quiet place. In the midst of chaos, conflict, commercialism and even contempt for the sacred, we again were reminded that there is hope for the world in what took place 2,000 years ago. O little town of Bethlehem, all the longings of the world are met in thee tonight!

This Bethlehem moment really began the moment I entered the Church of the Nativity. Each pilgrim must enter the church through the “humble door,” aptly named because the door is so small, one must bend over to enter this sacred place. Stooping to enter through the humble door, I was reminded that it is only in humility that we find those “Bethlehem moments” in the midst of a busy Christmas season. It is in humility that the birth of Christ must be accepted within our hearts.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today

Now that Christmas is over, Easter is on the horizon. Once again, I must walk through the humble door toward Easter. Jesus himself walked through the humble door in surrender to give his life on the cross. He beckons me to walk through this same door and to live a surrendered life. The door is open to all. The question is, are we willing to stoop so that we can walk through that humble door?

Nancy Turley is the territorial abuse advisor for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. She and her husband, Joel, attend the Bracebridge Corps with their three children: Ethan, Aidan and Jordan. Nancy enjoys hiking in Algonquin Park with her family. Her column will feature reflections from her journey to the Holy Land.