Thursday, December 03, 2009

Christmas "Mood"

I'm not yet in the Christmas "spirit" or "mood". I'm trying, but I just can't seem to get there. Perhaps it is the insane way that Christmas has become so commercialized that you find Santa Clauses and Jack O' Lanterns in the same aisle at Target.

We put up our Christmas lights on the house the week before Thanksgiving, because the weather was good. But, I didn't turn them on until AFTER Thanksgiving. (like you are supposed to) That didn't help. We put up my mother-in-law's Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving then ours later that same evening. That didn't help either. We observed the First Sunday of Advent with the lighting of candles and the singing of Christmas songs in church last Sunday. Still not so much in the mood. I started listening to Christmas music. I suppose that has helped ever-so-slightly.

So, what's the deal?

I don't know. I'm not Scrooge, that's for sure. Historically, I've been more like Clark W. Griswold. But not this year.

Maybe I'm just tired of the commercialism. Maybe I'm tired of the secularization of Christmas. Maybe I'm just tired!

In any case, soon, I'll get a picture of our house all decorated up in lights and ribbons. It is a little different than last year, mainly in that I didn't put lights around the windows this year.

Christmas isn't a feeling or a state of mind; it is the observation of the birth of our Savior.

3 comments:

Bill (cycleguy) said...

Rick: I struggle with this sometimes also. Today is the first day that we have really had any cold weather and it has helped in making me realize that December is really here. I tire of the Christmas stuff being up at Halloween. someone has said it will soon be Santa's sleigh pulled 8 tiny rabbits. But you are right. Cmas is not a feeling; it is a time to celebrate the birth. I pray that you and your family will have a good one.

Monk-in-Training said...

ah, but dear Pastor Rick, the season (as you mentioned) is Advent, you have three more weeks to get into the mood for Christmas (Dec 25-Jan 6) ;)

How about the (buynothingchristmas.org) thing started Canadian Mennonites to de-commercialize Christmas?

Perked me right up!

Rick Boyne said...

Thanks, Bill! Same for you and your family.

Monk, VERY GOOD POINT! I'll check out the website you mentioned. Blessings!