In the last couple of weeks, I had a conversation with a friend. Thankfully, we are both relatively mature adults. As we often do, we covered a wide range of topics—family, work, church, sports, theological understandings, and even politics. Remarkably, as the conversation concluded, neither of us felt bruised. Instead, we left smiling, laughing, and even hugging as we went our separate ways.
One topic we touched on was the perennial debate about socialized healthcare, often referred to as “free healthcare.” We quickly agreed that it could never truly be free. Someone would have to bear the cost—ultimately, the taxpayers. The idea of “free” healthcare is, in reality, an illusion.
This led us to discuss free secondary education. Surely, as the “richest” nation on earth, we could afford to educate future generations. We talked about the billions of dollars held in endowments by many colleges and agreed that the cost of attending these institutions could and should be dramatically reduced. But what about those who have already graduated and are burdened with crushing student loan debt?
“Those debts should be forgiven!” one of us proposed. “Forgiven? Like waving a magic wand to make the debt disappear? How does that work?” was the response. Our back-and-forth revealed a reality: student loan forgiveness often transfers the burden of repayment from the borrower to taxpayers who never received the loan’s benefit.
As our conversation wore on, we concluded with a simple truth: “Nothing is free.”
As pastors, this realization seems at odds with the core message of the Gospel: “God’s grace is free to all who believe.” But even God’s saving grace came with a cost. Over 2,000 years ago, the deposit for that grace was laid in a manger—a response to a promise foretold by Isaiah: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6, NET).
In this Christmas season, we celebrate that child in the manger—the Son of Man—who taught us to live, love, and give. He bore the price of humanity’s sin so that you and I could be restored to God and one day know eternal life.
Remember, nothing is truly free, especially the gift we celebrate this season. May God’s love overflow in your life today and always.
— The Daily Fisherman

“We Speak Different Languages but Often Say the Same Thing”
C. S. Lewis – “That Hideous Strength”
I was struck by this quote as I read it this morning, especially in light of the climate we find ourselves in today. Whether it’s a disagreement within the Church or differences in political ideology, we seem to be more focused on being right than on being righteous.

Think about this: we cannot even get through what is supposed to be one of the most joy-filled seasons of the year without arguing over words. If I offer you a cheerful “Merry Christmas,” it’s not an attempt to impose my Judeo-Christian values on you. Instead, it’s my way of offering a blessing, wishing you joy during this sacred season. Similarly, if you say “Happy Hanukkah” to me, I should be ecstatic that you’ve chosen to invite me into a celebration of light and illumination that holds deep meaning in your life. In a sense, your greeting is a gift—a desire for me to experience the joy that this season brings to you.

We can continue with other greetings, like “Happy Kwanzaa,” which is a celebration of culture through feasting, family, and community, or “Happy Holidays,” a broader acknowledgment of the various festivities and time spent with loved ones. Each of these greetings, though spoken differently, carries a shared intention: to spread goodwill, joy, and a sense of connection.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:10 (NLT): “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” What better way to embody this than by receiving each other’s greetings with grace and gratitude? Instead of focusing on what separates us, we can choose to celebrate the love and joy that unite us.

So, in this season—whatever it is you are celebrating—I encourage you to look beyond the words and recognize that we are often speaking the same things, only in different languages. When someone offers you a greeting, they are extending a piece of their heart and their joy to you. Let us enter each day with joy, prepared to love and embrace one another.

May we be people who focus less on being right and more on being righteous, reflecting God’s love and peace in all we do.