There, I said it and the world still turns.
If you chose not to say it, the same thing will almost certainly happen.
At this time of the year it is especially important for Christians everywhere to remember not only what we celebrate, but some of the things it means to be a Christian here in America.
It means you don't have to worry if there's no nativity scene on government property - that's how we keep the church and the state separated. We're all free to worship or not, so consideration for the feelings of others need not be associated with any religious activity - it's just courtesy.
It means you don't have to worry when you say "Merry Christmas" to anyone. Most people understand you're just being friendly and wishing them the best of the spirit of the season. If they're offended, just apologize and offer them the best of the season. Just remember to be Christian in your definition of "best of the season". (Reindeer chips in their hot cocoa is not Christian)
It means that being a Christian in America is usually not a life-threatening activity, but that's not the case everywhere in the world. We really should be incredibly thankful for being born into a time and place where freedom is our foundation. Imperfect as it often is, there's no place else I'd rather be.
It means that even if there is an assault on Christmas as some would promote, we really don't need to be all that concerned about it.
Of all the people in the past 2007+ years, Jesus Christ is the last person who would be concerned if you didn't want to celebrate His birthday. The uproar over the use of two little words like "Merry Christmas" will fade into time, but the words and actions of Jesus Christ will continue to resonate through the ages.
Thanks for everything Jesus & Happy Birthday . . .
and all I can say to those of you who continue to honor me with your visits:
Merry Christmas!
8 comments:
Unfortunately, being a Christian in Iraq has very definitely been a life threatening activity.
I’ve got to say I agree with your sentiment, if not your religion, Watson. Many so called “Christians” not only leave Christ out of Christmas, but leave his teachings out of how they choose to conduct their lives.
I’m not Jewish, but I’ve been spending time in Synagogues lately. One of the advantages of being a minority religion is that Madison Avenue hasn’t deemed corrupting their holidays to be a profitable venture. If they did, think of what they could do to corrupt the SEVEN nights of Hanukah.
Anyway, I thought Bill O’Reilly’s claims of “War on Christmas” so ridiculous, I started a blog: www.waronchristmas.blogspot.com almost as ridiculous as Bill’s war, but not as vicious.
Regardless of anyone’s opinions about the content of any of these blogs we all have to agree that we are lucky that we don’t have to fear a knock on the door after we click on that “Post” button.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Watson.
I agree with the sentiment Watson. Christmas is quite obviously a bi-holiday. A cultural-social celebration for just about everybody and for some a deeply religious occasion.
May I wish you great joy on both levels.
Ted
But "Christmas" was being celebrated by pagans long before they ever heard of Jesus.
And a Merry Christmas to you Watson.
ALL THE CHRISTMASES
I remember strings of lights: red and blue
With flecks of white where the paint had chipped away.
My father standing on a chair, calling, "Rosemary, come in here! Is this tree straight?"
"Yes, yes, its fine. Please Buddy, please be careful..."
I remember the scent of pine. It seems now that it permeated everything.
Not just my senses, but my heart as well.
Even today, those long ago lights still pierce the darkness.
Through the front windows they still reflect
Colors on the mantle of snow.
There was always snow then, every Christmas.
Deep and white, with homelight shimmering on its crust.
In those long ago days, the warm glow of our hearts seemed
To push the night aside. And in the darkness, not so very far away,
We could hear the muffled hum of tire chains on snow covered streets.
Did you touch me while I slept? I seem to remember...
And I remember a Lionel train.
You searched for it across a wartime state.
It came from a pawn shop in Albany.
Not new, but even now it sparkles in the lights while it circles that Christmas tree of long ago memory.
Passing the lambs and the Kings from the East,
While the angel keeps watch.
(You had hair then. My God, so did I!
Those long ago years when Santa came...)
Santa Claus always stopped on our street first.
He was a personal friend of my Grandfather.
A pack of Luckys from The Store. Wrapped in tissue by little hands.
Merry Christmas, Daddy!
Monogram Sabre Jets and The Hardy Boys.
A Scott's Catalog and a little sister
Who clapped her hands with excitement and joy.
(I got what I wanted. They must love me the best!)
Then Mass at six, eight thirty and eleven.
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo"
And barely enough time to ask, "What did you get?"
Then an Indiana Christmas with rain instead of snow. Things began to change.
Time passed, and as innocence died, Christmas took on a new meaning. More selfish.
Gold crosses and chains.
Oh, there was still the snow, bathed in the yellow light
Of street lamps. We walked hand in hand,
And each individual snow crystal seemed to sparkle just for us...
If everyone moved to the back of the bus,
It could climb Summit Avenue hill.
And then again time passed. And again the joy diminished.
The once child now planned for THE FUTURE...
"Don't you know you should leave now?", she asks.
"We're going to have our Christmas."
And as it passed, it seems that time took with it the warmth,
The belonging.
Oh, smoke still huddles about the chimneys
And the frost still weaves its patterns on winter morning windows.
But now the lights are inside.
I did touch you while you slept. God, barely a month old.
The tree was new, but the ornaments were old.
There was an end to innocence...we were no longer young.
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT IN THOSE DAYS
THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM
CAESAR AUGUSTUS, THAT THE WHOLE WORLD
SHOULD BE ENROLLED...
AND JOSEPH ALSO WENT UP FROM GALILEE, OUT OF THE CITY
OF NAZARETH INTO JUDEA, TO THE CITY OF DAVID
WHICH IS CALLED BETHLEHEM...
TO BE ENROLLED WITH MARY HIS
ESPOUSED WIFE, WHO WAS WITH CHILD.
AND IT CAME TO PASS,
THAT WHEN THEY WERE THERE, HER DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED,
THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED.
Where have they gone now?
All the Christmases.
OK, it's the 26th.
Can we put away the bells and kettles, close the soup kitchens, take down the "Peace on Earth" banners and get back to the homo-hating, immigrant bashing, controlling women's rights, fear mongering, imperialist, war fighting, corporate welfare, and tax cuts for the rich?
God Bless You Dave - I hope you had a Merry Christmas and I pray that in the New Year you'll find a way to have that chip surgically removed from your shoulder and the stick removed from the aperture of your hindquarters.
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