For many of us, this time of year brings stress, and a deep internal quest to once and for all define who we are.
“I am not a Christian. I don’t believe that Jesus died for my sins or that he was God reincarnate. So where does that leave me in this Christmas Story and celebration?”
There are many that say, “we are celebrating Christ, the One, The Savior, and all others be damned, or at least ignorant.”
There are those of us who view Christmas as a holiday for kids. For giving, for charity, for the Norman Rockwell view of what life should really be.
The PC crew wants us to remember Hanukah (a minor Jewish holiday until PC came on the scene), Kwanza, Solstice and New Year and importantly I might add, not to forget or exclude ANY holiday celebration. It is tolerance, choice, soul searching and most of all JOY. JOY that we have seen another year come to a close. Joy that we are free to express our beliefs and pursue them as we choose. Joy that our fellow man can express THEIR belief and we aren’t under some mandate to kill them for that belief.
So how do we deal with this holiday called “Christmas” that has become the basis of consumerism? How do we deal with one of the Christian’s most holy day of all if we aren’t Christian?
Long before the birth of Jesus, Pagans celebrated the rebirth of the sun. It would return as would the crops, and life would continue for one more year. Keep in mind, these folks were close to nature and also filled with doubt. Why was the sun disappearing? Why was it so cold? Would we eat tomorrow? They didn’t have grocery stores nor great farms that raised crops and shipped them world wide so that we could get tomatoes 365 days a year. These folks, thousands of years ago, were truly happy that the sun would be returning. Winter solstice marks the longest night of the year. They were thankful that the days would grow longer. We should be too. A part of the holidays is to thank the Sun for returning, for, by January 30 you will notice the days getting longer even if the temperature is still cold. Here Comes the Sun and blessed be!
But let’s go back to this Christmas thing. Jesus was a great prophet teaching love regardless of how you read the writings. Few disagree with that. His one message was love thy neighbor as thyself. Is there anything in that sentiment we can disagree with? Moslems Jews, Agnostics; all agree. He was a prophet. Taking a cue from His teachings, we have Christmas as a family holiday where we join together with those we love and share a day, a meal and perhaps gifts to mark the birthday and love to our family and friends.
The secular celebration of Christmas has brought about great wrath. We read and hear every year how Christmas is nothing more than capitalism at its worst. We hear how we over-spend, taking months to pay for the gifts. We hear how we have forgotten the true meaning of Christ’s mass. I disagree.
Even our secular Christmas reinforces the strength of Hope. A child hopes and wishes for that latest jacket or video game. A child hopes that Santa Clause (a saint by the way) will bless him or her with the gifts on the wish list. And parents? They share in the love that effervesces as the child rips open the paper and goes gaga over the latest toy.
The lights of the season, the trees, the scents, the myriad array of food - these are all symbols of sharing what we have for all, and they are all symbols of our hope for life to continue forth.
So what is this Christmas thing?
It is sharing the joy of being alive and ‘knowing’ that tomorrow the sun will rise. It is the sharing of hope and peace and love for even those we have never met. It is a blind, yet knowing hope that another year shall bring us prosperity and good times or the strength to survive rough times.
This Christmas thing is honoring the strength and infinite love of mankind for mankind… of honoring the birthday of one who taught us that Love for one another is life’s key. This Christmas Time is a time to deck the halls and be lighter, be merry, be giving and be thoughtful of others. This Christmas time is….
A time to say “Merry Christmas” to all you meet with a light heart for t’is the season to be merry and “to all a good night”.
Rev. Lucinda Parker
Dec. 16, 2007
This season of cold and darkness is for family and friends. It’s a time for contemplation and reflection, for inner soul-searching. Now is the time to make amends and right wrongs. Now is the time to make those that mean the most to us happy.
I’m not Christian. Solstice is my holiday. I was once told by a very respected elder, “You may not celebrate Christmas, but it’s a Family Day.” She is Jewish. How very wise.
Happy Holidays,
Kimberlee Todd