I’m Dreaming of a Commercialized Christmas?

(From this week’s church newsletter) On the “commercialization” of Christmas:

I’ve been thinking that maybe I’ve been too worried about this issue.  It’s upsetting, but maybe it really shouldn’t be that big of a debate.  The term “Black Friday” sounds pretty scary; and while it is ridiculous that we start seeing Christmas aisles before Thanksgiving; the hype is not without some merit.  Christmas really is a big deal.  It should be a time of planning, buying, and giving.  It should be a time of joy and excitement.  It should definitely be a time of family gatherings and good food.  It’s a celebration.  The trouble isn’t with the hyping of Christmas – it’s in the forgetting of why we celebrate.

Sometimes the biggest issue we face is that we just plain forget ourselves.  We are so very human and prone to hurry right past the important stuff.  It’s as if we’ve received an incredible gift; but are so consumed with the wrapping paper that we miss it.  Sometimes even the opposing forces are able to steal our focus off of Jesus by stirring up this controversy or that (So we get busy boycotting when we should be partying).

This Christmas I’m going to try getting less upset about grumpy shoppers (of which I am the worst anyway), watered-down Christmas greetings, and non-Christians acting like they don’t agree with us or something; and simply focus on Jesus.  The one who came to rescue us from death and Hell can also rescue us from Wal-Mart and politically-correct greeting cards.  If we’re willing to remember Him and all that He’s done for us I think it might bring the “Merry” part back to Christmas!  Merry Christmas!

-Lyle

“You don’t have a soul.  You are a soul.  You have a body.” – C.S. Lewis