Thanks to Monk-in-training and Minor Clergy for this timely artical. This issue has irked me, but I haven't had the time or inclination to really wrestle with it all. I think the writer did an excellent job here, and I hope you take the time to read it.

Those of you who know me are aware of my great love for Christmas and all its trappings -- every bough of holly, every Christmas light, every gift and Christmas tree -- I do not care to do without any of it. I love the very excesses of Christmas. I am not offended by the commercialism. I enjoy the communal celebration of it all. It is a season to be jolly, and I take full advantage of that.

I try to carry my Christmas spirit around with me all year long. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes not at all. It's always so much easier to be of good cheer when you are surrounded by others in the same mood. I don't care how many jump on that bandwagon -- the more the merrier. You want to have a blue snowman on your lawn? Have at it. You want to add a Christmas palm tree to the festivities? Bring it on. For me, Christ makes Christmas that much more meaningful -- and this is a time of year that lends itself to sharing that meaning with others you might not be inclined to share with other times of the year. Perhaps people are just more inclined to give and receive -- more needful of giving and receiving -- this time of year.

I'm not entirely Pollyanna on all of this, by the way. I know that greed tends to show its ugly face this time of year, tensions increase, "entitlement" rears its head. I see people fighting over the bargain priced items and racing like maniacs to get stuff done. People seem to be offended so easily these days -- they have such thin skin. Whether Wal-Mart wishes me a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holiday has really no impact on my faith. I fear a population of people that are that easily pursuaded. Grumpy people certainly tarnish the joy of the season. It is especially unfortunate when the most grumpy of the bunch are the Christians. If only the voices we heard were of the ones who are rejoicing. (I know there must be some!) To quote Minor Clergy, "Let them find Christ. In us. Not in Wal-Mart."


I wish you all a magical Christmas -- one of warmth and love and endless possibilities. Listen carefully, you might even hear the angel voices (even in Wal-Mart if you are brave enough to venture...).