Yeah, yeah...it's Christmas Eve morning, so I should be looking forward to the newborn savior and all that. Poor kid is buried in so much tinsel and wrapped in swaddling plastic packaging that there's no way he's gonna bust loose.
Now, I'm not saying that we ought to put Christ back in Christmas. Like the many rituals, relitions and traditions and from which Christmas evolved, it's evolving again. There's nothing wrong with celebrating friends and family. I could do without the sappy music and the overt capitalism, but if people want to take the day to show they love one another, fine. I can get behind love.
So, yeah. I'm looking forward to a wonderful meal, laughing with family and even the ritual of going to church with my mom. But I'm not offended if instead you want to pile up the kiddos and gawk at the neighbors' lights. You're doing something as a family. Good enough.
But leave your freakin' hands off of Lent. Not like I think society has found a way to market the time of giving up something bad, taking on something that's good for you that you wouldn't otherwise do, and music in a decidedly minor key. That doesn't even cover the Lutherans burying the Alleluia until Easter morning.
Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. If we insist on ritualizing religion then let's go for it. No beer for 40 days (Sundays off for good behavior); intentional working out / prayer / meditation / whatever; songs in church written in a range I have a fighting chance of hitting. Yup. Lent. That's my kinda holiday. It speaks to the morose Scandinavian within me. As an added bonus, you manage to get through Lent, spring is within spitting distance. You get through Christmas and what do you have? (Well, after Epiphany for those who are counting.) January! Cold, cloudy, dark, miserable January.
Yup. You can keep your flashing lights, mistletoe, and ho ho ho. I'm looking for my hair shirt and workout sneakers. But, can I keep my fiber optic, twinkle-light tree?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Well, I have Guatemala to look forward to after Christmas: no snow, great weather, poverty and despair, souvenirs and beautiful scenery.
Yes, its night shift again! My children are all snug in their beds, although the Scotland one will be getting up soon, and I'm here waiting for patients, who must also be snug: who would want to come out on a night like this?
Well, it's a holy night, angels singing, shepherds watching...might be a great night to sing alellulias. I'm feeling very inspired by Christmas this year, but not at all by Lent. Working out sounds too brutal...maybe I'll feel differently after NT, maybe not
Blessings,
Diane
Post a Comment