So I begin a new blog today with prayers that I will do better posting with this one! My purpose with this blog is to re-think and re-frame Christmas. I'm not sure this is the equivalent of Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenburg door, and yet...
I just know that I am sick and tired of Christmas. There are several reasons for this. One is that I just can't reconcile the Christmas of my childhood with Christmas now at 51. Another one is my pastoral study and what I've discovered about historical inaccuracy and how little we teach about Jesus' birth, the background information. A lot of it comes from the consumerism, greed, paganism and idolatry that is so much of Christmas anymore, even in the church and in Christian families. There's a lot that comes from the passing of my mom last year. She made Christmas for us, and so much of the magic and meaning died with her.
Every year anymore I come down with a bad case of "the bah-humbuggies". There simply is no joy. And I think about my Aunt Vivian who never lost her joy at Christmas. I always thought she was a little too extreme-no tree, no cards, no, well, Christmas. And I certainly am not prepared to give up a lot of what is Christmas and has been for years. Still, I wonder, looking back, if she knew something. Was her relationship with Jesus Christ and His presence in her life more important? Was she not willing to sacrifice that? I know it could be hard on my cousins, and I wonder if now they, too, see it from a little different perspective.
So what I would like to do with this blog, even after Christmas is over, is to share thoughts and wrestle with how we as Christians might re-think and re-frame this whole Christmas thing. How we might be counter-cultural and maybe, just maybe, start a reformation. At least where Christmas is concerned.
Aunt Vivian, this blog is dedicated to you. Your approach to the holiday season has challenged and puzzled me for years. But I can't argue with the fact that you never seemed to lose your joy. I want mine back, and I'm praying that your walk with the Lord might help my own.
I remember the first year that we didn't put up lights or a Christmas tree; I was so disappointed. I knew they meant well, but it was no fun at all. A couple of years later, we did get together with family and drew names and purchased gifts. But, we certainly knew that it wasn't Jesus’ birthday. Mom and dad pointed out the importance of celebrating the birth, death and resurrection of Christ, by helping others any way we could, all year long, instead of just at Christmas time. They were great examples of loving your neighbor, by buying clothes, food or by simply helping others.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas; I love everything about Christmas! I love hearing Handel’s Messiah while I’m shopping at the mall, I love the kid’s Christmas program at school, the two weeks the kids get out of school, all the time they get to bake cookies, play, and spend time with family. I love giving the kids change to put in the red kettles for the Salvation Army. That is something my dad always did with me. We don’t typically ask our children what they want for Christmas, we ask them what they think we should do for others. One year we found a family in need, bought them groceries, clothes, and gift cards, so they could buy gifts for their own children. Our kids still talk about that. I like seeing how excited they are to buy gifts for one another, and of course, I love giving them gifts. They know that it’s not His actual birthday, and they fully understand that Santa is just a character. We do have a tree, but we certainly don’t worship it; and if we didn’t have one, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
I could be wrong, but I think the most important things are simply to do good, live right, be kind to others, help others in need. I think of Luke 10:27 “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’” Christmas-time highlights that for me.
Thanks, Miriam! I remember Jonathan and I talking about Christmas, or the lack of it. That's what I've been thinking about. Your folks lived their faith so well and with so much joy. I'm glad that you've been able to have Christmas with your family and found what works for you. I appreciate your taking this journey with me. I truly believe the time for reformation has come for the church, and maybe it will begin with re-thinking Christmas. Thanks again, love you!
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