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Dalton
Roberts |
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I have been all over the map when it comes to attitudes about Christmas. Some years I was the child struck with wonder. Some years I was Scrooge. Some years I commercialized Christmas by shopping and gift giving. There were years I put up a tree and strung out some lights. There were other years I almost hid because I did not feel like dealing with it in any way. Our attitude toward Christmas reflects how we are experiencing life at that time in our life. If times are hard, we may not get into gift giving. If our faith has been shaken by some severely stressful event, we may not have the spiritual strength to celebrate the mystical rituals or to cling to the comforts afforded by some of the Christmas stories. One time when I had a particularly painful experience in a church, I confess that it dampened my own personal experience of Christmas. I am pleased to say that my admiration and appreciation of Jesus’ words and work is no longer dependent on what a church does. I think gift-giving takes a bad rap. It is true that some people spend too much and when the bills come due in January, they are in trouble. But I am certain that he or she who overspends in December does the same thing in other months. I see value in anyone moving out of ego long enough to think of others and desire to share their bounty with them. Those who carefully study their Christmas list and buy something that perfectly fits each person are practicing a high form of love called thoughtfulness. One of the beauties of Christmas is that it is really a grand collection of stories. Each ritual or traditional practice has a powerful story behind it. Every part of our stories does not need to be a scientific certainty for us to find morsels of meaning in it. That was a realization I picked up from Joseph Campbell’s PBS series on the myths of humankind. Anyone can fully appreciate the story of the race of the turtle and hare without thinking God personally delivered it to us. We can love the stories of the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan even if they are not literally true. If it is possible for us to open up to all the stories of Christmas, we will find ourselves enjoying more streams of meaning and inspiration. If you love diversity, thank the Germans, Italians, Poles, Swedes, Norwegians and others who came to us bearing the gifts of their own stories, including Christmas trees, lights, mistletoe and even old Santa himself. I’ve gone full circle in my own attitudes and Christmas practices. I have grown to appreciate the teachings and what we know of the person of Jesus until those two aspects of Christmas mean the most to me. I have no argument with others who enjoy celebrating one of more of the other Christmas stories but I expressed my thoughts in a song I recently wrote: I spell Christmas with a capital “C” It’s not Christmas without Christ to me I still feel magic in the Nativity So I spell Christmas with a capital “C” I love the Wise Men riding from afar Arriving Christmas morn And shepherds hearing angels sing A special child is born Jesus is the reason for the season to meSo I spell Christmas with a capital “C” Yes, I spell Christmas with a capital “C” Fir Jesus is the greatest gift to you and me He’s the gift that keeps on giving eternally That’s why I spell Christmas with a capital “C” I love Santa Clause and mistletoe And laughter Christmas morn But the message that rings out to me Is “the Prince of Peace is born” Jesus is what makes it merry Christmas to me So I spell Christmas with a capital “C”
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