As I sit and type this blog, the United States House of Representatives is voting to impeach President Donald John Trump. If you have read previous blogs, you will know that I am no Donald Trump fan. That is an understatement. And yet, what a somber moment for our country.

It is a somber moment because of the political wrangling on both sides of the aisle. I am sickened of the venom and hate-filled speeches from both sides. In fact, it would appear that Congress is mimicking the Commander in Chief, who has elevated the language of hate to an art form. My middle-school playground friends would be proud.

While pondering the impeachment process, I wondered to myself about the percentage of the current Congress who consider themselves Christian. I googled it. According to the Pew Research Center, a whopping 88.2% of the United States congress considers themselves to be Christian, a greater percentage than the constituents they represent.

I have not heard many Christ-like comments in this whole process. A reporter recently spoke to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in terms of Democrats hating Donald Trump. Pelosi turned on the reporter and indicated in forceful terms that she does not, in fact, hate Trump, but instead prays for him. It is not the first time I have heard Pelosi speak of prayer.

So 88.2% of Congress would claim to be Christian. Do the math. Roughly 470 of people in the House and Senate claim Christianity. And yet, the vitriol toward each other is palpable and ugly and most definitely not Christ-like. What I have heard really goes beyond being mean-spirited. It is simply anti-Christian.

And now we embark upon Christmastime…the most wonderful time of the year. It would be fair to say that most people enjoy some aspect of the Christmas holiday. We like Christmas music. Whether it’s the great carols of Christmas or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” we like Christmas music. Whether we are listening to Perry Como and Andy Williams or Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, we love Christmas music. I would dare say that when Congress breaks for Christmas, at least 470 of them will go to their homes and listen to the same Christmas music as the rest of us.

We also enjoy Christmas decorations. Christmas trees (natural and artificial), stockings, wreaths, bows, garland, large inflated yard decorations, and more. Some folks get into it more than others but most homes will have some sort of Christmas decoration, even if the decoration is minimal. I would guess that when at least 470 members of Congress go home for the Christmas break, they will enjoy many of the same Christmas decorations that you and I enjoy.

What about giving and receiving gifts? My dad loved to give gifts at Christmas because he enjoyed watching our reactions as we opened the gifts. Most Christmas trees will have some semblance of gifts under them. I would guess that at least 470 members of Congress have bought a Christmas gift, just like the rest of us. And I suppose they will receive gifts (proper ones with no strings attached, anyway).

And we cannot forget about Christmas movies. We have classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street.” But we also enjoy more modern movies like “The Santa Clause” and “The Polar Express.” Christmas movies are great. I would bet that most all of Congress will at least watch a snippet of a Christmas movie this season.

What’s my point, you may ask? Very simply, it is possible to agree. It is possible to get along. It is possible to come together and have common interests. Is it too much to ask for the members of Congress to get along with each other? Is it too much to ask for a Christmas miracle?

The original miracle of Christmas, lest we forget amidst the music and the decorations and the gift-giving and the movies…is that the God who created the heavens and the earth sent his only son, Jesus, to live among us, to show us how to live, to give his life so that we may have life.

You would think that if 88.2% of Congress is Christian, they could find common ground. Maybe there is still a Christmas miracle left.

Of course, we don’t have the right to ask of our representatives that which we are not willing to do ourselves. What if we decided to desist with hated-filled and venomous language toward “the other side”? What if we determined that we will not stoop to the childish partisan antics of those who represent us?

Christmas miracles come in all shapes and sizes. If you and I can make things right with the ones we know across the aisle, maybe elected officials will do the same.

Nancy Pelosi prays for the President. We need to pray for him, too. And for those who represent the people.

Merry Christmas.