The Ides of December
By
Michael The Libertarian
So … the “Ides” of December. Being brutally frank, while
I indulge in the religious aspect of Christmas, I eschew the “holiday
season”.
I avoid stores and shopping malls as much as possible to avoid
that awful “elevator” music with the “holiday” themes. To
someone who truly loves music and religious music (even if not of my
faith), listening to muzak versions of “O Holy Night” or “Silent
Night” is truly painful and has lost many a retailer my “holiday”
shopping dollars.
It doesn't happen so much here, but when I lived in New York,
it always amused me how the most acerbic … ornery, even … people
seemed to “find religion”, this time of year. That same person
that would push you out of their way with a gruff “Move it, idiot!”
in August because they were in a hurry to get to the OTB before it
closed, was the same guy that would bump into you and say: “Oh!
Merry Christmas!”, starting right after Thanksgiving.
In all fairness, in my youth, my stock response became: “F**k
you, Santa Claus!”. That
wasn't very Christian and I am shamed by it, now.
So, yes, I have been jaded in
regards to the “holiday season” for a long time, now and, to be
completely honest, for a while in my life, that translated to
Christmas itself (and religion, in general). It took me quite a few
years to realize that those people that cloaked themselves in
“religious expediency” weren't really Christians, they were using
Christianity as a means to an end (sometimes that end was rather
nefarious).
You doubt me?
When I was very young, there
was a bank robbery pulled off by a guy, dressed in a Santa suit. For
those that don't know, it was almost impossible to travel one city
block, back then without seeing a Salvation Army Santa Claus, with
their donation well and hand-held bell. Once the thief made the
street, it was easy for him to blend in, within a block r two in any
direction. The working theory, at the time was it had to be someone
who was volunteering for the Salvation Army who didn't have to run
very far to “escape”. Depressing, no?
I don't mean to give the
impression that all my memories of this season are negative. They're
not.
I remember Winter evenings,
around the Brambach, singing songs, drinking hot chocolate, and
eating grandma's home-made, gooey chocolate chip cookies (others
preferred the sugar cookies. I didn't). One of my uncles even used to
do a “Christmas in July” thing where he'd go 'round with a group
to sing Christmas carols.
What is always very promising
to me is: every “holiday” season (to the best of my memory), I
have witnessed at least one person have their “Dickens” moment;
the one where they “learn” the “true meaning” of Christmas.
I've seen people who thought
they'd never see their children again receive a phone call that
starts off with: “Daddy! I miss you!”. I've seen people in danger
of losing their place to live suddenly come into money, save their
abode and donate some of the money to those less fortunate.
I've seen “Christmas
miracles”, but to me, the true miracle is what that divine gift
does to the recipients. It turns them into new people. It opens their
eyes to the fact that they
are the miracle (once they gain some perspective). What a
life-changing experience, not just for them, but for those around
them who benefit from the new attitude as well.
I guess, if the “Holiday”
season brings people to some kind of Christmas spirit, it is worthy
of some consideration. I would much rather people got their through
spiritual means instead of secular ones, if only because the secular
route seems to have an awful lot of detours and off ramps and
travelers' inns which have to be endured.
I'm sure I won't be the
first, at this point, but I want to wish you all a Merry
Christmas/Happy Chanukah/Happy Kwanzaa.
... and Beware the Ides of December!
- Michael
Comments
Post a Comment