Something like Christmas
Merry Christmas from Lehigh!
It's a balmy white Christmas here. It even snowed a little this morning.
Christmas tradition has eroded over the years as my family got older (and some may even suggest grumpier). Actually, I never really thought we had much tradition in the first place. For us, we gathered on Christmas Eve with the extended family and ate a little, drank a little, and opened presents all while the television blared. Most would sit around. Not my ideal.
My immediate family would open gifts on Christmas and do more sitting around at home. Perhaps we would eat something special.
Then a few years ago we began to go to Christmas Eve services at The Harbor. I let out a sigh of relief- at last we would have an honorable tradition. Nostaglia is okay. Family is good too. However, without the One who the season is meant to honor, Christmas seemw banal and pedestrian: a trite excuses to spend money and create a myth about a jolly fat man from the North Pole. Just look at Holiday programming.
When Christ is exhalted then indeed there is much to celebrate. All other purposes must be subserviant to Him. That's the kind of Christmas celebration I enjoy and desire.
For a good article on Christmas TV see Mr. Veith.
Nollaig.
It's a balmy white Christmas here. It even snowed a little this morning.
Christmas tradition has eroded over the years as my family got older (and some may even suggest grumpier). Actually, I never really thought we had much tradition in the first place. For us, we gathered on Christmas Eve with the extended family and ate a little, drank a little, and opened presents all while the television blared. Most would sit around. Not my ideal.
My immediate family would open gifts on Christmas and do more sitting around at home. Perhaps we would eat something special.
Then a few years ago we began to go to Christmas Eve services at The Harbor. I let out a sigh of relief- at last we would have an honorable tradition. Nostaglia is okay. Family is good too. However, without the One who the season is meant to honor, Christmas seemw banal and pedestrian: a trite excuses to spend money and create a myth about a jolly fat man from the North Pole. Just look at Holiday programming.
When Christ is exhalted then indeed there is much to celebrate. All other purposes must be subserviant to Him. That's the kind of Christmas celebration I enjoy and desire.
For a good article on Christmas TV see Mr. Veith.
Nollaig.
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