Christmas

Christmas, it's approaching and as usual the reminders of this are everywhere. Tv, radio, internet, daily conversation, shops and even the weather's getting involved to let us know the festive season is upon us. And what to make of it? It's a big deal, for over a month it becomes a focus of our country, ours and many others. Something so influential will inevitably conjure up strong feelings and with such diversity amongst us those feelings are bound to differ.
i think prominently those feelings are joyful, it's a time of presents, celebration, family and for some reason mulled wine. Others take a more controversial approach and feel a need to boycott Christmas or at least make it known that they are only joining in begrudgingly. Those immersed in the joy of Christmas don't take kindly to this and use derogatory terms for them such as scrooge and humbug designed to expose them as mere joy killers too concerned with their own grumpiness to be able to enjoy something as pure as Christmas and their stance against Christmas is hardly worth considering as it's merely a mask for the fact that they're just unhappy. Subsequently these excuses don't really get analysed, but when you do i think a case against Christmas could rouse substantial moral support.

The first and i believe strongest excuse is one of avoiding materialism. Christmas is heavily advertised and exploited for the sake of advertisement, money hoarding and business growth. Really do we need all these presents and do we need to buy all this crap. How many people are on your Christmas list that you have no idea what to get them? Could it be that that's because there's nothing worth you getting them. i'm all for gifts, and if you see or think of something that would bless a friend, family member or even enemy why not buy it and give it to them, it encourages love and selflessness and i'm all for these things. But if this is restricted to a time of year and becomes an obligation is there really any sincerity in it? The spontaneity of an out of season gift in my mind holds a much heartier weight.

The second reason i'd like for now to explore is this idea of the roots of Christmas. For those anti Christmas folk with no interest in Jesus they might argue that for them it seems hypocritical to celebrate His birth. On the other side you have those with a very active interest in Christ and for them there's an available point in the way Christmas has become seemingly distorted and betrayed it's original roots. Do the majority of peolpe celebrate with Him in mind? Do most our our modern day traditions originate from Him or for His purpose and is that really the time of year He was born anyway or wasn't the time dictated by paganism? i guess those are all fair shouts. But it's at this point in my path of thought i realise that i'm being far too analytical about the whole thing? Is cynicism always bad? i'd say no, but there's a place for nievity too and integrity comes not from flawlessness but exercising wisdom in knowing when to be nieve and when to be cynical.
Christmas like so many other things could be morally torn to pieces and if you have your own excuses for not joining in celebrations this year then fair enough, i hope that works out for you. But for me, i don't need much of an excuse to have fun and spend joyful time with my family and friends. And as for Christian content, what Jesus did on that cross for me is so wonderful that wether it's the time of year or not, wether it's on everyone elses heart or not, i wanna celebrate it.
You may not get a present from me this Christmas but just maybe you'll get one when you don't expect it and i can promise if nothing else this Christmas i'll send a smile your way.
Merry Christmas to you all.