It’s a shame that a season that should bring great joy and celebration to people has spiraled downward into Black Friday feeding frenzies including pepper spraying those who block your way to the bargains, overspending, overeating, overexertion. It’s ironic that remembering the birth of the One who came to bring peace on earth should result in anxiety, frustration and anger. Bah, humbug.
In his book, The Primal Scream (first published in 1970), Arthur Janov referred to this time of year as the Primal Season. And, yes, that sobriquet was intended to convey the unresolved pain many people experience regarding Christmas. So it’s not a new phenomenon.
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The book was mostly recently updated and repubbed in 2007. Here’s a picture of the book cover when I read it. Bizarre.
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I wonder if the pain, loss and disappointment could’ve been avoided if people had a handle on the true meaning of Christmas. I guess it’s not surprising that the powers of darkness would bring all guns to bear on the day set aside to commemorate the birth of the Messiah, to confuse the issue, get people so off track they lose sight of the hope that was intended. And the attacks haven’t abated. Imagine banning the display of a creche at Christmastime. But even without that controversy, we have taken away the simplicity of the message of who Jesus is and why He came and replaced it with slick merchandising.
When I taught at various schools in the LAUSD, and the season rolled around, I often asked the students what Christmas meant to them. After they expressed their ideas, I would write "CHRIST MAS" on the board. I asked them what "mas" meant in Spanish. Most responded, "More." It was a set up really. My final comment while pointing to the words on the board was, "So, Christmas is more about Christ than anything else."
I was a one-person movement to enlighten the . . . misinformed.
But I have to ask myself, "How much of what I do at this time of year is about Christ?"
How many lights can I string up? How many parties can I attend? How many Lego sets can I buy my grandsons? Is there another Christmas program I can watch? A new movie, perhaps?
What am I doing that's Christ-like?
I remember the little Christmas tree purchased and put up on Christmas Eve, hand-me-down ornaments, recycled wrapping paper and ribbons, and construction paper Christmas cards. Singing Silent Night hand-in-hand with my friends around the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Freeport, and praying for snow. I long for the time when expensive gifts were out of the question, and church programs involved the neighborhood kids in homemade costumes. It was a simple time. A forgotten time. Replaced by busyness and gala Christmas pageants with orchestras and 500 person choirs. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed my share of Church on the Way extravaganzas. But I find myself longing for more meaningful expressions of Christmas. Damn. I must be getting old.
Some years ago, George and I started reading Come and Behold Him, as a daily devotional leading up to Christmas. It helped us focus on the Savior. I have since found other devotional tools, Advent readings, to help me keep that focus, draw me closer to Him. Because Christmas IS my favorite time of the year. The best time of the year. And finally, after five years of it NOT being so, the wonder, the joy, the excitement of Christmas is returning to my heart. The broken heart is healing. The cold heart has turned warm again.
"All is calm. All is bright."
One last thought: Do you think it a coincidence that He who would refer to Himself as the "Bread of Life" would be born in Bethlehem, which means house of bread?
And a link to my favorite song. O Holy Night which expresses the heart of Christmas - my heart for Christmas.
Each year I find myself spending less and less at Christmas. I attribute this to: damn! I must be getting old! But too, echo your sentiment, what is Christmas really? Year round, I often listen to Christmas carols in the car as I drive to work in the hospital. They immediately put me into right-mindedness, that of gratitude, thanks, and service.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reminder to the season. (Actually read this immediately after posting but had not time to comment.)