I’m working on pt. two of the post below–but, first, a little grinch review.
__________________________________
I’ve actually been meaning to write a series of posts on Why I Love Christmas (Right after, Why Being a Christian Isn’t Always Synonymous With Jew Bashing, Gay Hating, and Assorted Crimes Against Humanity). . . but, every time I start I make the mistake of blog hopping and all zest for life is miraculously sucked from my soul via the internets. When will I learn? (that’s rhetorical, so keep your “nevers” to yourself, tyvm)
Don’t get me wrong– your blog, your point of view. If you hate Christmas, so be it. If you hate Christians, so be it. If you have a distorted view of what it means to be a Christian because you lump us all into one group based on your view of say, Jerry Falwell, or the Pope… so be it. I can’t change you. Don’t really want to. You are entitled to your opinion, and I for one like reading different points of view. Even when I disagree.
But I’m not going to lie. It’s difficult to have sweeping statements made about my faith by people who claim to be open minded, well educated, and my friends. Especially, when they have at least ONE living example of what it means to be a Christian in front of them that is different than the stereotypes they revel in peddling. However, that’s for another post–right now, we’re talking Christmas.
And my issue with all the grinching going on out there is not that it’s going on. It’s that I continue to read it!
For the record, I’m not a fan of all the consumerism that’s been attached to the holiday. It offends me for different reasons, of course, but it offends me just the same. That being said, I benefit from it. As a graduate student and clergyish type my Decembers are completely occupied. Most people do not understand this, but the best analogy I can give you is that December for me is like tax season for an accountant. You put your head down and you don’t look up until January. Throw in a kid’s birthday three days before Christmas and I’m ever so grateful for the the tinsel and kitschy candy popping up in aisles near you! If merchants waited until December to haul out their wares, I, for one, would be in big trouble–and every clergy type like me. And, sure, I know clergy people rank right up there with used car salesmen and lawyers from the content of most of the jokes I hear—but, call me crazy–I don’t relish the idea of canceling Christmas because everyone else is offended that the wares come out too soon.
I’m no idiot—I’m fully aware that the crap that gets hauled out early isn’t done for my benefit. And I buy very little of it… but if it didn’t come out early for me to buy replacement bulbs we’d have no lights on our tree. No ornaments either, because once again the box of wire hangers from last year got used in an “art project”. And the people in my life who are important wouldn’t get a thing for Christmas because the early barrage of holiday reminds me I need to start planning my projects and collecting the materials required for you receive a heart-felt, hand-made gift by the 25th.
But what about Thanksgiving, the lament resounds. So what about Thanksgiving! I’m not particularly bothered by the fact it is overlooked by retailers. While they are busy pushing Christmas to us we are free to enjoy the simplicity of Thanksgiving and all it means. That Christmas comes early to the stores just means that we can focus on what truly matters in November—family, friends, charities that feed people, and football. Heaven help us if Thanksgiving gets discovered.
Is Christmas headed toward July? Probably. But no one is forcing me to walk down the holiday aisles in Fred Meyer. No one is sneaking in packages of tinsel with your carton of milk. We can choose to not buy in. We can choose to do something different.
Ten years ago, I made the choice to stop shopping in December. I purposed to get it all done before Thanksgiving so that when the holiday season rolled around, I would never have to enter a mall. People in December, shopping in malls, are angry. They are focused on all they must do, and most of them aren’t enjoying the process one bit. It was a stroke of luck, in that Decembers are now fuller than expected—but my reasons still stand and will when I’m no longer a grad student, no longer clergyish. While the world whips itself into a frenzy, I sit back and enjoy the season.
This is just it—I do enjoy the season. It’s not just about my faith, not just about my kid—it’s about the advent of change that December brings. And so, this year, once again I’m vowing to not enter into the frenzy. But frenzy is pernicious— like a weed it has eeked its way into the crevices of some of the most delightful places. Sometimes it takes the form of cynicism and self-righteousness. Most often, it is simply grinch-like—refusing joy to others because it cannot find joy itself.
So, for those of you in whoville, who might have come under the spell of the green monster on the hill, you are welcome to your angst. Your blog, your opinion. But I don’t have to let you steal Christmas from me. See you in January.
Yes… I see in my mind’s eye a painted picture of the Whoville gang out in front of Macy’s sale being led by the Grinch in their discord…
“Deck the blogs with thoughts unkindly,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
‘Tis the season to be grumpy,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Don we now our stare and grimace,
Fa la, fa la la la la.
Troll the giant sale at Christmas,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
See the blazing discount before us,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Strike the nearest shopper—join the ruckus,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Follow me in angry displeasure,
Fa la, fa la la la la.
While I tell of shopping anger,
Fa la la la la la la la la. ”
__________________________________
That’s freakin hilarious! What’s even funnier is that my original title for this post was “Fa la la la la” and my closing line was, “la la la la.” ha!~W
That being said, I’ll make my January 1st post super special for you, Wende. See you then ; )
__________________________________
Will that post be written while sober or hung-over from the party the night before? 🙂 ~W
Oh, and you should visit this Sunday, too. I promise it will have nothing to do with Christmas.
___________________________________
Ha! I can’t be suckered in that easily. Sunday seems like the kind of day reserved for Christian bashing… :)~W
please don’t tell me you read astoria-rust did you?
I tended to avoid that blog until I noticed that some of the stuff written was trying do something else other than sh*t on things. But luckily he labels then sick (sh*t?) days which is a clue to avoid them
d
___________________________________
I admit that I did. His isn’t the only one tho—and as you noted, he does warn you. Just call me Pollyanna. *wink* ~W
I love Christmas, but would like it to be simpler and more traditional. I guess what that means is that I would like to focus on what I think to be important, which isn’t a fair way to judge. I hate the decorations this time of year, and am like you and would rather never visit a mall in December. I am the person who is home with the fire burning, the simmering potpourri and the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tunes playing. No one will take this away from me!(hee hee) And my parents are church going Episcopalians, truly wonderful, caring people(I am a confirmed one also)–we have a gay bishop, beat that!!
__________________________________
I don’t intend to beat it, I intend to join it. In exactly 4 days. 🙂 ~W
well, i don’t know who you’re reading, but on my blog we’re busy discussing nudity and bj’s. i don’t care when you buy your tinsle.
_____________________________________
You’re a credit to your profession, darling… 😉 *snort* And I’m not reading them any more. ~Wen
you know, i like to give a sense of reality to the often unrealistic confines of the ministry. just call me candid-kat.
___________________________________
I swear, we should write a blog called Real Clergy–Oh, and you know my sit-com idea? Yeah, I know who should play you–Charlotte Church. If you’ve not seen her comedy hour, go YouTube it. 🙂 YOU WILL LOVE HER! ~W
you want me to be played by little singing welsh girl? what? she has no comedy other than she is a comedy. oh. my. goodness.
i do like the blog idea, though. granted it would have to be anonymous because i need to get a job…
___________________________________
Before you get your panties in a wad–go look at her show: The Charlotte Church Show on YouTube. Look at the episode where she interviews Ashlee Simpson. M’kay. Then come back and tell me how freakin’ brilliant I am at casting!
And of course it would be anonymous–I don’t need to be run out of town. ~W
I do try to give warning in article titles and photos so readers may look away in advance. As far as writing drunk, I don’t have the stamina for that sort of nonsence. My January 1 article is already written as are two more Christmas and one Thanksgiving article. Other than that it should be safe for you to read unless you see the photo of a kid in a grave yard, the body builder, or a santa photo.
The guy who looks like Santa on a Harley will be safe to read, funny, too.(at least to me)
Yes, I am anal and write most articles long in advance. Sorry to ruin the illusion of writing on the fly.
__________________________________
I consider myself warned. ~W
i can’t believe that i’m saying this, but i conceed. she’s stinking snarky and shameless. sweet. granted her personal life of moving in with her bf at 16 is dissimilar to my life, but i do so appreciate (and resemble) her potty mouth. i don’t like the idea of a sit-com musical, though. she can sing the theme song or something.
___________________________________
Well, I think she could capture “you”—and no worries, I don’t do musicals. ~Wen
Believe it or not, I really love Christmas. No humbug here. However, I also love Halloween and Thanksgiving, and feel they are being hopelessly shoved under the rug by Christmas in July.
That being said, Merry Christmas!