Some thoughts on Christmas….

A friend of mine went to a Christmas play last year at a large church here in southern California. It was beautiful, she said, complete with flying angels singing on high….and real camels. She was filled with the spirit, beauty, and the hope of the story. As she left to go home, driving out of the parking lot with the rest of the crowd, she was shocked to have someone honk and yell at her…filled with “road rage” trying to hurry out of the parking lot. She was struck with the fact that many of the shiny cars filled with people, who just minutes earlier were watching the story of the birth of the “Prince of Peace“, were trying hard not to let anyone go ahead of them as they made their way out to the street. “How soon they forget“, she thought. Although she does remember getting a wave of thanks from one driver as she let him into the line of cars in front of her, she also remembers receiving another loud honk from someone behind her. She just shook her head.

Another friend , who has worked in retail for the last ten years, told of being advised a few years back by his corporate offices to not wish his customers “Merry Christmas” but rather “Happy Holidays” because several different religious holidays occur simultaneously. This is fine and seems reasonable but it was not in the form of a suggestion…rather it was a directive. NO Merry Christmas….NO Happy Hanuka. No one wanted to offend a customer…risking not making a sale.

When I was young I can remember my mother not shopping at stores that had decorations that said “Merry Xmas” I remember being with her when she has torn down small signs saying the same thing and throwing them on the floor. She couldn’t stand the fact that they were taking Christ out of Christmas. “Without Christ….why have the holiday?” she would fume!!! She suggested they just call it “Buy your family and friends a bunch of unnecessary gifts for what ever reason you choose “Day”!! This was a bigger insult to her than say…someone saying “Happy Hanuka” to her or having that displayed along with “Merry Christmas“. My Mother would gladly have shared in that sentiment.

Have we lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas? Do people go to church services or Christmas pageants to simply be entertained or fulfill their once a year religious requirement? Have we been blinded by the new tradition of spending big-time? Is not only our pocket books but our faith being controlled by big business?

Whether you believe or not, the day was set aside, long ago, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Plain and beautifully simple.

I often describe myself as somewhat of an agnostic. I believe in a higher power…you can call it God...just not quite ready to fully subscribe to what organized religion teach about that power…or their judgment of how I can reach any kind of state of enlightenment…or heaven. I feel that too much has been lost in the interpretation or to the politics of the day. I attended Catholic school and was taught from the Bible in my formidable years. I have also been told several times that my teachings were wrong and not complete enough…this may be so. However, I have come to believe that Jesus did exist and that his existence changed the world profoundly. His followers set aside this day to commemorate his birth…all be it they may have just chosen this day because it was already a ancient holiday and was convenient…that does not matter. To millions of people this is the holiest of holy days. A day to think how a child, a meek and innocent child, born in a stable, brought hope and the promise of peace to the world. If nothing else, that is what it is…a story of hope and peace. A time when mankind can stop and be kind to each other…maybe give a small gift to each other like the ones brought to the stable on that night. It is just hard for me to believe that a story about a fat man in a red suit, flying through the sky with a sleigh full of toys could overshadow that….but it has it seems.

Sometimes Christmas just points out to me how we have become so absorbed with material things. Shouldn’t this day be seen as HIS day and not ours…that he shares it with mankind to give us earthly and emotional happiness? A day that true happiness can and should be felt in spirit and not with the newest electronic gadget…or a bigger TV than the neighbors.

I don‘t know…as I see people spend money…I know it is good for the economy and jobs…but….I just wish Christmas was felt as much as it is seen. I want it to be about love and sharing love. Let the spirit of gift-giving be measured NOT by how much, but the thought of a friend or loved one remembering you. Christmas should be about how you celebrate it and how you make people feel loved. I guess I feel, after sharing the story of Christ’s birth and that hope he was sent here to bring to a tired and troubled world….Christmas should live everyday…in your heart. Not just until the new toy you received needs new batteries and sits forgotten in the back of your closet….

Just saying…..

Merry Christmas everyone…from me and my Bud's Charlie Brown and Linus...