We put up the decorations. We send out the cards with the heartfelt wishes for peace and goodwill. We sometimes sing the songs.
But the desires for peace on earth and remembrances of the real meaning have long been obscured in the frustration of finding a blasted parking spot. Joyous Christmas time is not much of that anymore.
Today on Thinking with Somebody Else’s Head, let’s re-visit the True Meaning of Christmas.
I remember in my youth waiting for the Christmas spirit. That elusive feeling of peace and spirituality that would kick in at some point in the holiday season. It could be a cold evening visit from a group of carollers that did it. Or a visit from a much-loved but little-seen relative. Or maybe Scrooge’s transformation in the annual family viewing of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
And now I’m dating myself, aren’t I? It even starts to sound like I’m talking about the 19th Century!
But it was something that did take over at some point: the Christmas spirit. For a short time, all would really be calm, all would really be bright.
But around 2:00 pm on Christmas Day, we’d all start to feel the restlessness kick in. No stores to go to. Nothing open. Nothing to do. Actually, maybe that’s why they instituted Christmas Day NBA games. Everyone just go too bored.
And I don’t think it’s any coincidence either that the 26th – Boxing Day in Canada – is the biggest sales day of the year in my country. People are so jumpy they’ll start lining up at 5:30 in the cold morning to be the first to slap credit cards on the counter to get the deeply discounted Blu-Ray DVD player or next year’s Christmas wrap.
But let’s try to return today if we can to remember the true spirit of Christmas. Let’s see if we can’t overcome our materialism a little to have a new spirit this year – and one that is much needed.
Dr. Norberto Keppe‘s Analytical Trilogy gives us a beautiful perspective – a theological, philosophical and even scientific insight into what should be our most precious and spiritual time of the year.