Personalize don’t Commercialize Christmas

Why did Jesus come to earth? Was it to establish a Holiday Season to revive business? Was it to encourage us to treat each other nicely for six weeks out of the year? Or was it so that we’d spend time with our families over a dinner and fine gifts?

None of these are bad reasons but they are not the reason Jesus Christ came to this earth. This time of year we get so wrapped up in what to get each other we forget to slow down and look around.

This is my first Christmas after cancer. I’m also 51 years old and a recovering Holiday-holic. I love Christmas time. For me, growing up, Christmas was the one time of year nothing got in the way of warm fuzzy feelings. Oh, it’s not that bad stuff didn’t happen I just chose to ignore/deny it for six weeks.

Post cancer destroys one’s ability to deny. Cancer mixed with age and a new view of Jesus, the season and His purpose, won’t allow me to play the game as I used to.

I wish there were ways to do both. I would love to climb back on the fence and pretend but I’ve seen too much.

Jesus didn’t come for Hallmark Cards, Christmas Tree Sales or booming business at the malls. He came to save us from some of the very things we’ve turned this celebration into.

I’m not trying to be a humbug about Christmas. I don’t see this as a big downer. It’s a chance to really experience Jesus not try to fit Him into some Holiday we created.

I will still do many of the traditional Christmas things this year but I have to think about why I do them and the feeling is less fuzzy. I still get that feeling but I don’t manufacture it with Holiday Music or things like that. It happens when I buy coffee for someone, take time to think more about God and question some of the things I used to take as fact.

In Luke it’s written:  “Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

Then in the next verse Jesus turns around and tells me to do good to my enemies.

That sounds a lot more like Christmas to me…..time to find someone who hates me and do something good for him or her. That shouldn’t be too hard after this blog. (Big Smile)

1 Comment

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  jerry carlin November 29, 2010 at 9:53 am

  Oh Rick, I can’t believe it, no one hates you! You have an infectous smile, a wonderful singing voice, and you make us think! Well, I guess that could be a criticism!