The Renovating Reverend

Last week, I was asked to answer a poll question, “When do you put up your Christmas tree?” The choices were something like a.) After Thanksgiving, b.) After December 1st, c.) A week or two before Christmas, d.) Fill in the date. I gleefully filled in the date with, “November 1st!”

Well, November 1st might be stretching it a bit, since we usually spend that day taking down and putting away our Halloween decorations. But once that’s done, the Christmas decorations slowly begin to appear inside the house. Holiday and winter-themed art work replaces the art that is up for most of the year. Pillows are swapped out. Evergreen garland is hung over the front parlor doorways. Father Christmas, in many different incarnations, stands and perches on shelving. The seven foot tall tree, draped in a Santa head topper with flowing cape, goes up. While the weather is in the 40s or 50s, the outdoor house lights are put up –even though they won’t be turned on until Thanksgiving week, when there might be snow and the temperature too cold for light hanging. It takes a while to transform a house, and we figure that the sooner we begin, the longer we’ll get to enjoy the effect. Joy is the key word. We really enjoy the holiday season, from Thanksgiving ‘til New Year’s Day. It’s a time for youthful wonder and anticipation, recharging the spirit of generosity, light in the darkness, music ancient and new, the magic of snowmen and Santa Claus, and the amazing love of the Creator.

Not everyone who celebrates Christmas sees the period of the winter holidays in this light. For some Christians, Christmas doesn’t hit ‘til December 25th, and the four weeks prior to this is a time of penitential reflection and soberly making oneself ready for Christ to come again. Others feel that it’s a time just for children, and adults should be beyond such things. For those who have experienced personal illness, hardship, or loss (especially during past Christmases), it can be a time that brings sadness and pain. I, myself, have experienced more than one “Merry f-ing Christmas,” so I understand those who feel the pull of the blues through the holidays. This year, we could certainly have tended toward a blue Christmas. We barely had time to begin mourning the passing of Steve’s mother in April before he had emergency surgery and was diagnosed with cancer in June. Then a few weeks later a wonderful cousin of his passed away after a very long battle with cancer. But, for me, the way that Steve and his sister were in loving agreement to honor their mother’s wishes—enabling her to die with dignity and with her amazing sense of humor intact—was, in a way, uplifting. Steve’s positive response to his illness has been great. And his cousin’s upbeat, loving attitude through several years of cancer treatments was an inspiration, another great example of how we can respond in a positive manner to the incredible challenges that sometimes come our way. “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” Despite having many tearful moments of grief for all of the loss and pain we’ve been dealing with this year, I can also feel the joy of loving, grateful responses to life—joy born of gratitude to the Creator for his indescribable gift of love. I am moved to express this joy and gratitude whenever and however I can. While I empathize with, and support, those who just can’t feel much joy right now, I will likewise not let anyone tell me that my expressions of Christmas joy are somehow inappropriate. I hope that you will do the same.

Wherever your feelings are at this holiday season, and however you happen to celebrate, I wish you peace and a deep sense of the Creator’s all-encompassing, unfailing love.

Merry Christmas!