But if you try sometimes . . .

Belated Season's Greetings to all.



If you would but humor me in a little convoluted philosophical Christmas exercise, I would be grateful. Here we go:

The only true way to measure the reality of time is to count the passing of each year’s Christmas. As any good American child knows, from Turkey day on there is but one goal at the end of the snow-covered, seasonal rainbow, and that is December 25, Christmas Day. 27 Days. 27 days filled with anticipation, counting, and may be some last-minute good deeds. Why? Why is this the goal? Why is this the object of fascination, so much so that it can alter the very behavior of an individual? One reason and one reason alone, my Yuletide Inquisitor: This is when we get what we want. Not just what we need or something for free, but we specifically get excited about getting something we want.

Now, everyone and their mother (literally), will argue that this is exactly what is “wrong with Christmas these days.” Golden opportunities for greed and Capitalistic exploitation by major corporations have become the reason for the season instead of the birth of our Savior. This blatant display of greed shows how lost we’ve become. It shows how selfish we are as a people (by “a people” I mean Americans) It shows that Christmas is all about us and no longer about anything greater. It is no longer about our savior, born this day, 2000 years ago.

But let’s be honest. To a 6-year-old the birth and death of some baby 2000 years ago, no matter how historically significant, just does not carry the weight of a 30” tall, fully poseable Optimus Prime with 45 different points of articulation. Call me a pagan or a cynic, but its true. I’ve been there and I bet a lot of you have too. Nobody wakes up at 4 am to go read Matthew Chapter 1 (the Christmas story) because they just can’t wait any longer. Think about it: to a 6-year-old the idea of sin and forgiveness is incredibly intangible, and pales in an attention-deficit comparison to a giant plastic robot that the kid can actually feel and touch.

And this is exactly what Christmas should be about:

Our selfishness. Our inability to grasp God.

Besides the fact that I just bought me a ticket to hell in most people’s minds, I would love for you to join me next week for the further exploration of my first point:

Christmas should be about our selfishness.

Have a Happy New Year.

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.
- Jane Austen