Christmas

I have often been accused of being a Scrooge. I have been called a hater of Christmas, a Grinch and of not finding joy in the season. This asessment is unfair, untrue, it is false.

Scrooge called Christmas a hum-bug and he hated the way people went around pretending, in his view, to be happy and going broke just because it was Christmas. Scrooge wanted to see those who celebtated Christmas be boiled in their own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through their hearts. I do not adhere to such harsh foolishenss.

I have a deep and abiding respect for Advent, Christmas and the spiritual truths that are reveleaed throughout the season. To me the arrival of the Lord is the pinnacle of the entire year. What I hate is the needless stress we all put ourselves through. I especially hate the commercials, particularly car ads, that advise that true love is best expressed by buying a Lexus for your wife. Those sentiments destroy the true, deeply spritual and essential message of Christmas.

I have learned to seperate the two realities. I live with my heart in Christmas and my mind in the world. I have learned to be in Christmas but not of Christmas. I will let Lexus keep Christmas their way and I will keep it in mine.

T. S. Deary

12/20/23