Tonight I went on a bit of a Christmas movie binge and the last one watched was The Little Drummer Boy. Like A Christmas Carol, and The Nativity Story?it is one of my favorites because it is a story full of love and healing. It also inspired this writing because of the story of the little drummer boy.
Christmastime.
Christmas is a time that not only Christians celebrate, but also a time that many other religions celebrate, under different names and in different ways. This is a holy season for many people, many faith systems and that cannot be ignored. While people are being absorbed by their consumerism and their greed and focusing on this so called War on Christmas, they are not focusing on the Nature or the Spirit of Christmas Season.
Religion does not matter. Just love.
Regardless of religion, or lack thereof, this is a time that is ancient and holy. This is a time that is sacred. It is a time that should be honored, should be heralded because of the renewal that this season represents. This is a time when love should reign freely yet we do not allow it because we still let our petty differences in the way.
We focus on what we want for Christmas, but we do not look at what we need or what those around us may need. We give gifts because we feel we have to, not because we want to. We are zombies, waiting to get the turkey or the ham and the trimmings, and then stay up all night and cook it, but we often sit with people that we do not like very much or who we tolerate but do not see the rest of the year.
But why? Why go through all of this trouble?
This is not what Christmas is about. It is a time of healing, of reconciling, of rejoicing, but it is not a time of forcing ourselves to just do our duty simply because it is that- a duty.
Saint Nicholas and Jesus are used for the examples of what we are to be; not because of some impossible standard, but simply because they gave freely. This is why both of them have become as famous as they have.
This Christmas, instead of giving to someone because you feel like you have to, give to them because you want to. Give to them from your heart, from your soul. Give to them out of love. That is what we need to practice and that is one thing that will be invited in by keeping Christmas in our hearts and honoring it all of the year- love. And with love, comes light.
“Wherever you find love, it feels like Christmas.”
~ The Ghost of Christmas Present, A Muppet’s Christmas Carol
