Ho Ho Ho

So, I'm in a bit of a lurch. You see, I love the whole "present" thing of Christmas. I get it - at least at a deeper level than a bunch of loot. I love that our culture has set aside a time for us to give things away - to actually go into debt - so as to express an "embodied" an "incarnated" or even "in-the-flesh" love - a sacramental love. The gifts I buy my family are a way for me to make real the metaphor of my love for them.

And no, you just can't do that with a gift card from a major retailer - though, maybe you can.

Whatever.

But sometimes I'm overcome with the grinchly attitude of mainstream, liberal Protestant Christianity - the whole "buy nothing for Christmas" attitude. I get that too. I see how that sacramental view of incarnated love can be taken to an extreme - in the way that many protestants feel that the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation is taken to an extreme.

I get it.

And I also know, living in a rural area, with many of my neighbours owning the stores and businesses which depend on the Christmas season in order to make a living (notice I didn't say "get rich" but make a living) - our economy sort of depends on this season.

Okay, so it's a bit of a dilemma for me. But, at least, I think I can fall back on my faith. I, after all, have no shame in calling it Christmas. There is Joy to the World! And Harold the Angel can Hark away!

But I feel a deep sadness for those who have a sort of Christian background - meaning not necessarily the immigrant muslims, sikhs, animists, etc. who have come to Canada and North America in the past 25 years. The sadness I feel for these "post-Christians" these cultural "christians" is that there is no real reason behind the season. Demographics (and I'm speaking anecdotally here) suggest that families are very much dispersed, and many in this generation do not have friendships in the traditional sense. If the "holiday season" is not about Jesus, nor about friends and family - why the hell do anything?

I guess that's the question of the 21st century.

Anyway, for the very few who actually read my sporadic quasi-sermons - Merry Christmas!! For those who are Muslim, I hope the Eid is joyous. For those who have just celebrated Chanukkah, L'Chaim! For any who may be Hindu I hope Diwali is light-filled. For those who are of African descent may Kwaanza be blessed. and if I've forgotten anyone who is celebrating anything this time of year: Good on You!


Blair