What I learned this Christmas

In a sense, its another Christmas, with the leading up to it spent in another country.
Interestingly, couple of firsts for me this time round:

1.Not everyone knows "O Holy Night" 
I was very surprised someone on the music team (I led songs @ church just before Christmas) had no clue - asked me name of tune (?!!!). Really.... never heard "O Holy Night"?!!

I dared not ask about "Silent Night".

2.Saint Nicholas Day @ Dec 5
A dutch family at church shared about how they'd celebrate this, and Christmas. Not quite Christmas per se, but it was interesting coz I think that's the origins of Santa Claus.

3.Exchanging of Gifts and sharing of Poems.
Another "dutch" tradition, had a party with friends from various countries, where we had to exchange gift, then write a poem for them to read out loud.

Mine went like this (name of the person rhymes with "Ner")

Have you eaten a pink banana?
Do you dream of going to Ghaha?
Ever pluck a ripe blue guava?

When you get home to [country], don't fear
Ignore those who call themselves King Lear
Just keep on sharing the gospel will ya?

Wife conveyed that it had to be at least 4 lines long (the day before).... I decided to exceed expectations by going 6! Realized that others made a much longer effort, that dwarfed my poetic talents...

4.Carols on Advent?
Back to music at church, someone thought it very strange that we're signing Christmas Carols during service on 22 Dec, since its Advent?!

5.No Christmas celebration?
Spoke to an Australian, who asked me about my Christmas celebration - and she was shocked that I didn't really have any. I had to scratch my head on what we've done special on Christmas itself. My home church doesn't even have a service on Christmas day (if I remember correct).

Does remember about Jesus all other 364 days count?

Realized that I really do live in a melting pot of different Cultures. At All Saints Anglican here in Jakarta, we have people from Afghanistan, Holland, Brits, Aussies, Americans, Canadians, South Americans, Africans, Bulgarians, Malaysians, Singaporeans and even Indonesians! It's wonderful to have such diversity, and takes lots of patience and understanding not to impose our own cultural values on others - a wonderful chance to learn other cultures, other practices. But it's also a wonderful view of what Heaven will be like - where all people from the ends of the earth, all peoples, all nations, all tribes gather to worship the one true God.

What have you learned this Christmas?
If nothing else, here's a worthwhile saying...

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14

Well, here's wishing one and all a Blessed Christmas.