Back Again, Hopefully

Here I am.  It's been 18 months since my last post.  I really did not intend to stop posting.  But so much "life" came at us that very often I didn't manage to do what I wanted.  I have written some things, but never got around to posting anything.  Maybe I will eventually.  I'd at least like to update the World Vision contributions and share some book titles I have enjoyed.  

In the meantime, let me just start somewhere.  Following is something I wrote early on Christmas morning 2014.  I have no idea why this comes to mind but since it does....

Christmas Journal 2014

It’s Christmas morning of 2014.  I’m enjoying my coffee.  I am using my “Abuela” (grandmother) cup.  I use it every Friday morning and on special occasions.  I’m obviously wondering what Allan and I would have been giving as our special grandparent surprise this year. And I feel sure that there would have been enough activities that I would have had to step in and offer to buy a dress for at least one occasion. 

Oh my goodness, what fun that would be! I know because my mother took Trista shopping when she had just turned 4. Grandma wanted to buy a dress, whichever one her granddaughter picked out.  We were not in JC Penny’s very long before Trista picked out the dress she wanted.  It was a “party” type dress.  Trista didn’t see it as such.  She told Mom that was the one she wanted because it was like a princess dress.  My mother had as much fun as Trista did!  I can see myself doing the same.   

But I refuse to debase the message of Christmas by just thinking about my family.  I’m wondering how my NICU babies are this morning. I’m thinking about the parents who had so hoped to have their baby at home for his/her first Christmas.  I’m thinking about those who are facing an eventual loss.  Some know it.  Some have yet to realize it.  I’m thinking about the nurses and the 12 hour work day the 7a -7p shift will soon start. 

I’m not sitting here enjoying the sunrise any less because some wished me “Happy Holidays” over the last number of weeks.  Instead, I’m wondering why, if Jesus could be so gracious as to eat with those horrible sinners, those scorned by the Pharisees, I shouldn’t also be gracious and respond in kind to someone who is wishing me well? 

Nor am I bemoaning the fact that some public buildings can no longer display a manger scene.  I’m wondering why churches that have no manger scene don’t purchase one to display in the yard on whichever side of the church gets the most traffic?  I’m wondering why Christians who do not have a manger scene for their front yards don’t simply take some of the dollars they planned to spend for Christmas and buy one?  I tend to think that if those two things were done the result would be a lot more exposure for, and commentary on, the meaning of Christmas than a few mangers on public property or inside public buildings many of us, or probably most of us, have no need to visit at this time of year. 

From what I understand, certain nationally known Christians are urging us to be sure we understand just where these types of “attacks” on Christmas will lead, unless we stand up for the Christian religion now.   I, however, simply do not perceive any friendly greeting as anything but just that, a gesture of good will.  And I see the push against manger scenes in public places as an objection, nothing more, nothing less;  straightforward disapproval of using tax dollars for anything that might appear to favor a particular religion.  

So, I personally am not worrying about any future persecution of Christians that, according to some, is foreshadowed by the addition of “Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas” as a seasonal greeting.  And  I reject any speculation on what anti-Christian discrimination can be expected in years to come because some citizens want our public spaces to remain completely neutral; to remain as places used only to conduct municipal/civic matters.   Or, as in the case of public gathering places, some want such areas to be void of any religious or political statements; to be places of relaxation, safety and refuge from the normal, everyday matters of any kind.   

But, apparently, I should be concerned about these things.  In a fairly recent commentary a very vocal Christian “leader” vehemently insisted that Christmas, therefore Christ, is under attack.  He gave at least a couple of “flagrant” examples of government attacking Christmas.  He wrote, “We should not be taken aback, then, when a day that should be devoted to meditating upon the marvelous virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is instead treated in a scandalously secular way that denies His deity and saving work.”

What I seem unable to comprehend this Christmas morning is why I have not also read or heard this “religious leader” address the “scandalously secular” way Christmas is treated by hyper commercialism.  I believe that might be one powerful distraction from meditation on “the marvelous virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  I researched some statistics.  From what I have investigated, it appears the United States retail industry generated over 3 TRILLION  U.S dollars during the 2013 holiday season.  My study showed holiday retail sales in the U.S total 619.9 Billion dollars.  U.S retail e-commerce holiday season sales total 72.41 Billion dollars.  The average total spending for Christmas gifts is 781 Billion dollars. 

Such staggering figures made me ask what true “Christ-like” good could be done with just one percent of that?  What amount would be available if all of us Christians decided to spend 1 percent less on gifts, with the intention of giving it to those who are sick, who are without, who know what “being attacked” really means?  Unless my math is wrong, one percent of what I see as really treating Christmas Day in a “scandalously secular” way, would generate $7.81 BILLION dollars.  I would think that amount should go a long way in doing some human “saving work”.   The question is, would we be willing to spend 99 cents instead of one dollar?  Instead of spending $100 would we be willing to spend only $99?

I don’t know.  But I am questioning what would happen if we stopped talking about how horribly we Christians are being treated, about what the founding fathers intended and instead thought of how to better love others?  I am imagining that those Christian leaders who are so troubled and anxious might be wonderfully surprised.  I have real doubts that those who are suspected of wanting to destroy Christmas would stand a chance of succeeding.  The people we Christians would be helping at Christmas time would all be on our side and would very much want Christians to continue celebrating Christmas.  I think this would be especially true about parents whose children we might help.  One thing I feel sure we can agree on is that very, very few parents would fail to support those who loved their children.  And, from my point of view, Jesus would see that as an appropriate way to be “meditating” on Him, of focusing on the concept of giving in great love, which is what we say we believe He did.  It is why we say we celebrate His birth.