Real Christmas - it's all about love Christmas one of the most important events in human history. That's a big statement to make. It's not only a big statement, but its message relates to Christians, Muslims, Eastern and Western religionists, believers and non-believers. It's relevant all year round, not just on one day. But what's so big and important and relevant about Christmas? It's all about the underlying message that Jesus' birth ushered into the world. Yes the details of the story are important, but it's the underlying message that's of the greatest importance, both then and today. It's important because it was the beginning of a life lived with such love and dominion that it so transformed the experience of the people around him, that its legacy is still felt and celebrated over 2000 years later. Jesus' mission was to show us what makes life work right for us. Maybe that doesn't sound like such a 'big' statement, but look at the effect he had on the people around him. He turned poverty into overflowing abundance; ill health into full health; even bad sinful behaviour into good honest characters. His life was entirely motivated by love - love for God and love for his fellowman. Jesus was revealing a different dynamic aspect to life that was not obvious to the senses but one that could bring practical healing solutions to life's problems. He understood the tangible power of spirituality. Spirituality relates to things of the spirit, or the non-physical. It's all those qualities of thought that are good and true. It's ideas that make life work right for us, like kindness, honesty, trustworthiness, intelligence, creativity, happiness. Spiritual thinking cares for all, never harming man nor beast nor the environment. It's a living principle. If we think these are human qualities, they're liable to human frailty and failure. Jesus showed us that these spiritual ideas and qualities have a divine source, not human. They're sourced in God and so have divine authority and power. It's a bit like in maths, turning to the principle of mathematics to find a right result, rather than simply trying to figure it out for ourselves. Jesus continually turned to the divine, not anything material. He revealed to the world a non-physical power; a spiritual force for good, that could and did solve human need. He revealed to us that the true harmonising power unpinning our experience was God, but he showed us an entirely different way of thinking about that term God. He showed that the true concept of God was Love, as the Bible defines. He showed us the true power, or Principle, in our lives and in our world, that makes existence harmonious, well and peaceful was Love, divine Love. But at Christmas, and all year round, don't we all know, Christian, Muslim, Eastern, Western, believer and non-believer, that it is Love that makes the world go round, it's Love that makes life worth living, it is Love and only Love that can bring 'on earth peace, good will to men.' Beth Packer is a member of the local Wollongong Christian Science Church, and listed in the world-wide Journal of Christian Science Healing Practitioners. To look more deeply into this Christianly Scientific way of thinking, visit the official website christianscience.com. Merry Christmas everyone. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF MERIMBULA Sunday Church and Sunday School for Children and Teens 9.15am at Tura Beach Library and on Zoom. Please feel free to email sancynasoncs@gmail.com with any enquiries or to let us know if this article spoke to you. AW7430342 Real Christmas - it's all about love Christmas one of the most important events in human history . That's a big statement to make . It's not only a big statement , but its message relates to Christians , Muslims , Eastern and Western religionists , believers and non - believers . It's relevant all year round , not just on one day . But what's so big and important and relevant about Christmas ? It's all about the underlying message that Jesus ' birth ushered into the world . Yes the details of the story are important , but it's the underlying message that's of the greatest importance , both then and today . It's important because it was the beginning of a life lived with such love and dominion that it so transformed the experience of the people around him , that its legacy is still felt and celebrated over 2000 years later . Jesus ' mission was to show us what makes life work right for us . Maybe that doesn't sound like such a ' big ' statement , but look at the effect he had on the people around him . He turned poverty into overflowing abundance ; ill health into full health ; even bad sinful behaviour into good honest characters . His life was entirely motivated by love - love for God and love for his fellowman . Jesus was revealing a different dynamic aspect to life that was not obvious to the senses but one that could bring practical healing solutions to life's problems . He understood the tangible power of spirituality . Spirituality relates to things of the spirit , or the non - physical . It's all those qualities of thought that are good and true . It's ideas that make life work right for us , like kindness , honesty , trustworthiness , intelligence , creativity , happiness . Spiritual thinking cares for all , never harming man nor beast nor the environment . It's a living principle . If we think these are human qualities , they're liable to human frailty and failure . Jesus showed us that these spiritual ideas and qualities have a divine source , not human . They're sourced in God and so have divine authority and power . It's a bit like in maths , turning to the principle of mathematics to find a right result , rather than simply trying to figure it out for ourselves . Jesus continually turned to the divine , not anything material . He revealed to the world a non - physical power ; a spiritual force for good , that could and did solve human need . He revealed to us that the true harmonising power unpinning our experience was God , but he showed us an entirely different way of thinking about that term God . He showed that the true concept of God was Love , as the Bible defines . He showed us the true power , or Principle , in our lives and in our world , that makes existence harmonious , well and peaceful was Love , divine Love . But at Christmas , and all year round , don't we all know , Christian , Muslim , Eastern , Western , believer and non - believer , that it is Love that makes the world go round , it's Love that makes life worth living , it is Love and only Love that can bring ' on earth peace , good will to men . ' Beth Packer is a member of the local Wollongong Christian Science Church , and listed in the world - wide Journal of Christian Science Healing Practitioners . To look more deeply into this Christianly Scientific way of thinking , visit the official website christianscience.com . Merry Christmas everyone . CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF MERIMBULA Sunday Church and Sunday School for Children and Teens 9.15am at Tura Beach Library and on Zoom . Please feel free to email sancynasoncs@gmail.com with any enquiries or to let us know if this article spoke to you . AW7430342