Christmas bells are
ringing on the street, on the radio, and in our hearts…weather we like it or
not. We are in the midst of the most
stressful and most anticipated times of the year. It is this very conundrum that we find the
highest suicide rates and the most giving. I wonder why this is? How can we be so depressed we kill ourselves
and yet this time of year is deemed the most happiest time of the year?
With a little thought
it is not hard to understand why. As
adults, just as kids, we surround ourselves with expectations; the only
difference is the expectations themselves. As children we awaited the gifts, we expected
the best present, and hot chocolate and cookies, and warm fires. Our expectations were simple. Today, as adults we expect much more of
ourselves. Instead of focusing on what
we will be receiving at Christmas we try to out do each other in giving, we
remind each other that someone just got married, or had a child or got a raise
and use this as a time of competition and one-upping the other instead of the
simple miracle it was meant to be.
As adults we have
polluted the beauty of Christmas by culturalizing it. As a scholar of cultures, I usually find it
helpful to integrate into the culture to understand them. But I have found that in doing so, we
sometimes loose the beauty that is difference. You see, we have take a day that was meant to
celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and commercialized it –
not just in the giving of material possessions (thank you Happy Honda Days) but
have made even that a competition with mythical saints (thank you Apple and
Best Buy).
Where are the simple joys of childhood in a world wrecked
by wars and recession? Where are the
simple joys in saying, you know what, it is not about a gift, or what amazing
things happened this year that you can bring up to compete with others. It is
about a God that loved so much He gave. WE did nothing. Nothing to deserve it. Nothing in aiding it. Nothing.
Yet we expect. We expect
ribbons. We expect tags. We expect packages, boxes, and bags. When that is not enough, we expect raises,
and bonuses, we expect boasting, we expect to be set up to look the best. I think it is time to admit we are all a
little bit of a Grinch.
I know I am at fault too, perhaps the worst culprit. I find myself ashamed sometimes of what I do,
that it is not good enough for the circle of friends I have. I read the Christmas cards as boasts instead
of salutations from friends afar. I have
taken the joy out of my own Christmas. So,
I guess I wonder when did this happen? But more importantly, how do we change all
this?
What can we do to stop this cycle that is plaguing this
most glorious and celebrated holiday? How
can we be a Who who just loves Christmas a lot? What will it take? Volunteering for the less fortunate? Baking some treats for your coworkers and not
putting a name on it? Taking away
presents all together and remembering what it means to just spend time with the
people you love? How does one humble
themselves?
This season, I ask you to think on these things, as I
will and do. As you come up with ideas
or you have some traditions that you think help you, please post on my page so
we can all learn from your wisdom. Merry
Christmas everyone! God Bless!
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