Difficult Season Begins

The Holidays, Christmas, begins. The stores have been ready since before Halloween as usual. Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is the traditional start to the American rush to December 25th, packing the floor beneath the Christmas Tree with an embarrassing load of gifts and wrapped boxes. It is the season of happy and abundance.

Unless you are not living abundantly. Then these holidays become a burden. By comparison with everyone else, the holidays are a season to be survived.

Abundance is measured in many different ways. Money is the usual measurement, but actually it is most likely second or third. Health is number one. If you or a loved one is suffering a serious disease or dying, holidays are a burden.

Being alive and not alone is second. Think of all the people who have lost loved ones in recent weeks or months. Their holidays will be stunted if at all. Alone may not signify a death of a loved one, but absence whether short or of long duration, is the ingredient felt during the holidays.

Third is financial abundance. Does the family have enough money to truly support a happy and secure holiday celebration? That is for each household and family to determine for themselves. Striking the right balance of appropriate generosity during the holidays is tricky business.

Finally, the fourth reason to celebrate is religious significance of the holidays. They are Holidays with a capital H precisely because these days are well connected with Christianity and its specific calendar. The same with Judaism and other world religions. Our calendars converge a bit at this time of year and religious celebrations are many. And different. Important just the same.

The holidays, however, have long been edging away from theological meaning. Today’s holidays are social rather than creedal. This has exposed a raw edge to the season. Many people suffer greatly during the holidays. Depression, suicide, and grief are common at this time of year. This is especially true in the US of A. The land of plenty has a problem with the season despite its heralded fun, partying, and gift giving.

The real joy of Christmas should be our gratefulness for those we hold dear and near. Sharing time and space with them is the well of happiness that should be present at this time of year. Often it is overwhelmed by all the other trappings of the season. Pleasant and valued as they are, they are not the reason for the season. No, theological philosophies are the reason.

Best we remember this and ponder the meaning. Difficult days for many are here at this time of year. Ease them through the season, won’t you?

That would be a great start for this Holiday season.

December 1, 2021

 

 

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