Christmas 2013

This is my selfie.

Now I have something in common with Obama, Cameron and that other person who insisted on taking a picture of the three of them and caused more attention than she bargained for.

It is funny that so many people took offense at this picture being taken (allegedly – surely the press would not exaggerate a reaction).  Do they not realise that this was not a funeral but a memorial service, an act of celebration of a life worth honouring. They must also have missed the ‘vuvuzela’s’ going off and the singing.  All though I have never met him I get the impression he would not have minded!

Another picture that also appeared though and got some news from that event was far more profound.  It was this one.  President Obama shaking hands with the Paul Castro, President of Cuba.  The first U.S. President to do so in public for fifty years (the last time it was behind closed doors and they denied it happened). It was only a small gesture but an incredible one in significance and so fitting for the event.

In just that moment it told me that Obama gets it.  He may or may not fully understand the lessons from the MandelA story or bring about a lasting change but he clearly gets the lesson of Mandela/South Africa in all its imperfections is one of grace and forgiveness and how that only comes from one’s own selfie!

It’s interesting that this picture was quickly overshadowed by a ‘selfie’ and a man waving his arms about in a random fashion – for a genuine reason or not.  Is it maybe that the world can’t get grace even when it is before their eyes!  The transforming effect through God doesn’t really make sense?  Maybe we struggle to truly honour it because it points too much to our own ‘selfie’?

Christmas however (Christ with us) may be should inspire us not to look at ourselves too much and become so absorbed in our time that we point everything at our self but instead we turn our focus the other way around.  Pointing the camera the wrong way round may miss the main event!

Have a lovely Christmas and God’s grace be with you and inspire you to a New Year!