Love embraces, hatred distances.

This week, we celebrate that God came to us in the form of a baby, that he became one of us, that he came near. It’s easy to create distance when someone irritates you, makes you feel uncomfortable or offends you. But love closes the distance, love draws near.

As Christians, we not only live our lives in celebration of what Christ has done, but we also take his life as an example. To celebrate his birth – that he came near – we have to approach those we would rather stay away from, we have to embrace those we’d rather hold at bay.

This week, in celebration of Christmas, try to close the distance with one person who irritates you, makes you feel uncomfortable or offends you.

Closing the distance can be hard, but here are some things to try:

• Initiate a conversation where prolonged silence with that person has come as a result of a grievance or offense.
• Take an interest in someone you would normally avoid.
• Invite an estranged person to join you in a group conversation.