Colourful Christmas

by Rev. James Wong

Colors have powerful effect on our emotion. Sometimes we get an uneasy feeling in a certain room or very relaxed in another—we call this ‘color mood’. Color psychologists working in the decorating field suggest that orange is to be used in restaurants because orange increases the appetite. The combination of pale blue or turquoise and orange creates a relaxed and big appetite atmosphere for a restaurant.

Colors could be used to describe life. Like a teacher, who ask her young students to use color to describe their lives, was surprised to see their drawings. One child uses blue all over because she says her parents bring her to the sea side very often and she falls in love with the deep blue sea and the big blue sky. Another child only uses grey to draw because he says nothing is interesting at home. There is no TV, no internet to go on the web, no Facebook to meet friends, no mobile phone to sms, and mum and dad do not talk to each other.

Another quiet girl uses black all over; black sky. Black house, black people, black mountain, black car. She says her life is a total black because there is nothing good in her world. She is living with her mum and her father has left them for another woman. Life was very hopeless. King Solomon, the wisest and riches king of his time summarized a hopeless life with these words:“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). 

The colors that we see around us during the Christmas season gives us an atmosphere of happiness and celebrations. There  is an anticipation of something great and good. Everyone is enjoying the festive holiday, though for different reasons.

Christians celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born, the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

The news of Christ’s birth is meant for all people of the world. Why? Because the child that was  born is the Savior of the world. This is how Jesus, the Savior,  put it, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10). A life without long term hope cannot be described as rich and satisfying. This is what God has for us. “For sin pays its wage — death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 6:23 TEV). A life with eternal hope in Christ is a colorful life. Receive it.