 |
| Brett building an igloo-the neighbor kids played in it. |
Then a copy of Robert Fulghum's latest post and a Christmas explained link to his site.
December 18, 2010
Pack Creek Ranch, San Juan County, Utah
The week before Christmas – December, 2010
CHRISTMAS EXPLAINED TO AN ANXIOUS HEATHEN
“Jesus never had a Christmas tree.
Jesus never sang Jingle Bells.
Jesus never got to sit on Santa Claus’ knee.
In fact, Jesus didn’t know anything about Christmas at all.
If he were to suddenly re-appear next week, he would be utterly baffled.”
That’s me trying to be helpful to a young agnostic friend who is somewhat anxious and defensive about Christmas and what’s expected of her.
She’s doesn’t quite know how to relate to the idea of a new-born King or angelic choirs or visiting astrologers.
And she’s confused and conflicted about the raucous holiday juggernaut that bears down on her every year about this time.
She was not raised in a religious community, her family had no religious affiliation, and Christmas was not an important part of her life.
She doesn’t know most Christmas carols, the historical background of the Christmas traditions or the underlying theology of the Christmas story.
The closest she came to getting burned by the Christmas fire was being in a school pageant once when she was a kid.
She was Joseph.
Why? Because she was the tallest kid in the class and Joseph had no lines in the tableau. All she had to do was stand there in her long bathrobe and beard and say nothing – just look perplexed.
Probably a very accurate depiction of the original Joseph, actually.
I told her that she and Jesus have a lot in common.
Jesus never went to church or Sunday school.
Jesus never had a Bible. Never owned a rosary. Never went to confession.
Jesus wouldn’t understand about the Easter bunny.
Jesus wasn’t even a Christian or an American.
Jesus was a Jew born in a land under Roman jurisdiction.
And Jesus was confused and conflicted about the religion of his day.
If Jesus returned to Earth he would be just as confused and conflicted about the religion and cultural Christmas tsunami of our day as she is.
On the other hand, if he came to dinner at our house, she would like him.
He was a fine story teller, enjoyed good red wine, and was the kind of guy who would help clean up the dishes after the meal.
He liked good people – and she is one of those.
Jesus would like her.
What should she do, then, about Christmas?
My advice is to just get simple-minded for a few days.
Good is good.
Go for the good. Look for the good. Notice it. Praise it. Be good.
A lot of good things are going on this time of year.
Be part of that.
Getting together with friends is good.
Singing with friends is good.
Laughing and hugging and kissing are good.
Giving those you love a present that makes your affection clear is good.
Giving something to those in need is also good.
Decorating the house is good - candles and incense and some fir branches in the house – and a music box is good.
Going outside late and night and looking at the stars is good.
Being hopeful for a few days at least – that’s good.
Cookies and pies are good.
Slowing down and taking life easy for a few days is good.
Reflecting on what’s good about your life is good.
Don’t worry about the words of the Christmas songs – listen to the music.
Don’t worry about the theology of Christmas – people always need something to explain the wonders of this life that are beyond them.
Forget about the Virgin birth – every birth is an unfathomable miracle.
Don’t get anxious about angels hovering around like giant moths.
Some angels are real – are young and lovely – they just don’t realize it.
At least one man I know thinks deep in his heart that you are an angel.
Settle for that.
Don’t worry about what everybody else does – do it yourself your own way.
Be kind, be generous, reach for the good in ways large and small.
Risk optimism.
Most of us are doing the best we can most of the year.
And this time of year we often try a little harder to love our neighbors.
And ourselves.
That’s good.
It’s like this: The good existed in the human race long before Christmas.
And will remain essential to the human race long after Christmas is gone.
And every day and every night is sacred to those who believe that.
