The Season

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It's the Christmas season, it's a time for many things, it's a time for gift giving, bright lights, and (supposedly) good will. Ya know peace on Earth, good will to all men. (Hey, I didn't write the original, I just quote it.)

It's also Hanukkah, which sparked a conversation with my pal Shelly as I was purchasing my breakfast at my place of employment.

"Happy Hanukkah!" While she knows I'm not Jewish, she knows I like holidays and usually know more than mine own.

"Yes, at sundown."

"No, today is the first day of Hanukkah." She insisted.

"Yes, it starts at sundown. Today." I, ever the pedant, replied.

Now she's giving me the gimlet eye, all married men know this look.

"Okay, is today the first day of Hanukkah or not?"

Me, looking somewhat puzzled, began to explain that in the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath, most holidays and other things of that ilk begin at sundown.

"So at sunset tonight, Hanukkah begins. So while today is indeed the first day of Hanukkah, it hasn't started yet."

So now Shelly is laughing. I am replete with puzzlement as I gape like an immigrant just off the boat in a strange land.

"Hahaha, I thought you said Sunday, now I get it, you said sundown. Hahaha."

I guess I should enunciate. Sometimes my speech, like my writing, isn't as clear as I think it is. Just ask The Missus Herself.

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All that aside, for me, Christmas has always been my favorite time of year for as long as I can remember. Lights, family, carols, fun, decorating, food, gifts, and the like all hold a very special place in my heart.

For those starting to wonder, yes, I know the reason for the season. The day commemorates the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. (Often the contrarian in me thinks Yeshua and Messiah in place of Jesus and Christ. The same perhaps, but the former feel more "authentic.")

I have to admit, church confuses me. Especially as our pastor is very much into this lectionary thing, which, to be honest, I simply don't care for. I'm sure my Catholic friends must find such an attitude to be somewhat appalling. No doubt I would've been burned as a heretic in the olden days.

I don't need reminding of the prophecies which foretold the coming of the Messiah, I know he came. He was born, he died, he was resurrected. I know these things. I don't really care to rumble through the Old Testament at Christmas time. Give me Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Especially John -

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

It is the season of light, of joy, of love.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Prophecy has its place. I get it. But the Lord has me, hook, line, and sinker. Why do pastors feel the need to constantly convince us of the rightness of our belief? Of the need to believe? I am bought and paid for, why continue the sales pitch?

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Okay, yes, I get it. Some folks need the reinforcement, am I perhaps missing something?

There's a fellow over there on the sidebar whom I've been following as of late. Very Catholic he is, at least so he appears to me, a Congregationalist by birth, a Baptist by choice, and a seeker of knowledge. (God gave me a brain, I believe he intended that I use it, so I do.) Very interesting reading, while I can't say that I agree with him in all respects, he's a smart fellow and is generally a good read.

He has yet to confuse me.

I see the glories in God's Creation all around me, in the rocks and the trees, the life which surrounds me, the mountains, the plains, the sky. My God is a powerful God whose mind we mere humans cannot fathom, this much I know. There is much I don't know, there is much I don't understand.

But I have faith. And really, it's all I need.

So I shall enjoy Christmas as I always have, the lights, the decorations, the music, the food, the drink, the laughter of children. I will give a nod to jolly old Saint Nicholas, I will dream of sleighs drawn by eight tiny reindeer. I will revel in the memories of Christmas past and pray for peace for Christmas future.

But keep your dour Puritanism away from me. God is love, he forgives his children if they but ask and beg his pardon.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Enjoy this season of light. May you be loved, may you love.

Whatever you believe.