The Christmas story implies that what God wants to do for us is so beyond the bounds of human effort and striving, that God had to resort to sending a strange and unimaginable gift. The first word of the church, the first word to the people born out of so odd a story, is that we are receivers before we are givers. But I would rather see myself as a giver. I don't like picturing myself as needy, empty-handed. It's tough to be on the receiving end of love, God's or anybody else's.
Nothing is more repugnant to capable, reasonable people than grace' .
Christmas is God's gracious intrusion. But one has to recognize the treasure. You can't put it in the bank or bury it under the maple tree in the back yard there isn't time. The rule of the game is that you have to entrust it to someone, some human being. According to one reminiscent writer, who played this game as a child, the fun part to the game was sitting around in a circle and exploring all the character flaws and virtues of the various possibilities, searching for a trustworthy person.