The last few Christmas’s
have been very disappointing for me with the exception of one. I wasn’t disappointed because of presents or
anything like that (I really am not a present receiving person… I hate trying
to find somewhere to put stuff or even worse, what if I don’t like it?)- I was disappointed
because it never felt like Christmas because I was so busy with everything
else, hence the only exception is right after I graduated and had nothing to do
but sit back and relax. Now, for any of
you who really know me even a little bit you know that I LOVE Christmas so when
I wasn’t feeling it this year I started to think a little deeper about what the
problem is and thankfully (and not) heard from friends that they had the same
problem. My conclusion? Christmas is
missing two things- Santa, and more importantly, Christ.
Think about it- when you were a kid and still believed in
Santa the world was glittery and nothing could go wrong during the moth between
Thanksgiving and Christmas. We wrote
letters to Santa and checked the mailbox every day until we got our reply. We wondered in amazement at the fact that
there were so many Santa’s at the mall and tried to figure out which one was
real. We “ALWAYS” behaved just in case
Santa found out and we lost our presents.
I remember laying awake in bed on Christmas Eve listening for any little
sound that could be Santa- one time I even heard him break a mug when he was
making coffee! I could go on and on but don’t need to- we all remember those
days. Then, one day in fourth grade Dad asked
me to go shopping with him. I will never
forget that day- I even remember exactly where we were when he told me the
truth (sitting at the light at the intersection of Atlantic Ave and New Hope Church
Rd) that he and Mom helped Santa out because there are too many kids for him to
get to in one night, and now that I knew I got to help as well. The next few years were great- I knew Santa
didn’t come to our house but I got to help Mom and Dad (and Felicity) pick out
things for stockings and keep it going for Noel. Over the years we didn’t pick out stocking gifts
anymore- that was back to Mom and Dad and since Noel knew the secret there wasn’t
any reason to keep playing around. Then
came the point when I really didn’t want anything for Christmas, probably
because I realized just how expensive things got and knew the difference
between need and want. Studying for
exams took precedence over preparing for Christmas… then it was figuring out
schedules and how everything was actually going to happen when I finally got
home. This year my focus turned from
exams almost immediately to writing sermons and preparing for interviews. I let life take Santa away.
Then there is the more immediate problem, and a quite ironic
one for someone in seminary- we have let Christ slip slowly away from
CHRISTmas. You think I’m kidding? If you
have one, go look at your ADVENT calendar.
What is on it? Mine has a pretty nativity scene… but under the doors are
simple pictures dealing with Christmas and not Advent. When looking on Pinterest I keep finding cute
ideas for making advent calendars- my favorite is a muffin tin with magnetic
circles to cover the holes that are filled with a present for each day. City governments are passing laws that ban
nativity scenes in public areas. We are
getting so caught up in all of our party planning and exam studying that we
skip church (I’m guilty), which has been turned into a month-long production
rather than worship (this is the best time of year to find new members,
right?). Just the other day I was
talking to a minister friend who was stressed and frazzled and told me that she
misses enjoying Christmas- now it is all about getting the right presents for
her kids, getting everything ready for her family vacations, and of course preparing
for every service and event at her church while ministering to those who are in
great need during this time. Gave me a
whole lot to look forward to. Schools
can’t even celebrate Christmas because of its relation to Christianity and it
would be a terrible thing to bring Christ into the schools.
So, here is my proposal.
Let’s bring Santa back and especially let’s bring Christ back. You still have a few days- write a letter to
Santa. It doesn’t have to be a list of
toys, but maybe there is something you want (material or otherwise) and going
back to your childhood and sending that request to Santa could do wonders. Make a point to get to church this weekend
and on Christmas Eve. Sit down and read
the birth narrative in the Bible (this year’s lectionary is using the Luke
account). Even better, tie the two
together. My absolute favorite
decoration at Christmas is Santa kneeling at the manger- I have the image on an
ornament that hangs at the very front of my tree. On the back of my ornament is this prayer-
“Lord, you know that you’re the reason I take pleasure in this
season. I don’t want to take Your place,
but just reflect your wondrous grace.
And so when they begin to
open gifts which they have been hoping, may they give You all the glory, for
you’re the one true Christmas story.”
SO, in these last few days of ADVENT bring both Santa, who
works on behalf of Christ, and Christ back into the season. My nieces have it right- they listen when
Mommy reminds them that Santa is watching and they worry because they can’t
find the Baby Jesus ornament. Let’s learn from that toddler innocence.
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