It’s that season again!
This past weekend some of the neighbors were busy putting up loads of lights on their houses and lawns. I, being a luminous display abstainer, left my lights were they have been for several years: Somewhere in my garage.
Some folks go all out and put up displays which must make the electric company folks rub their hands with glee. Me, I’ve got a front door display of a manger scene, which is laminated plastic, and folds up into 1/4th the size of the door for the rest of the year, tucked behind the living room couch, ready to spring into action any day now.
Tradition.
I’m not a cold hearted person, but sectarian violence in the name of religion fills the history of many major religions, including Christianity. That has me not caught up in the displays on this holiday which supposed to center around the birth of the Christian Saviour, who asked me to turn my cheek to the one who slaps me. I’d rather do my proclaiming of my faith quietly, in the way I live every day.
I search for the meaning of Christmas within me, and within each one I am in contact with every day.
I’ll still put up a Christmas tree inside, and help my bride untangle the lights, and put the star on top of it. I’ll still take a family portrait in front of the tree, same as every year.
I’ll love singing and playing guitar in the ensemble at church. I’ll enjoy our son and his to-be-bride, my in-laws and family, listening and sharing stories of the year, and of the past.
I’ll quietly thank God for caring about me, and ask how I can help care for others better today.
Just don’t ask me to put up a lighted display.
A wonderful post.
Tradition. It’s our comfort zone, our tie to the past, our promise for something, something “guaranteed,” for the future — it’s important. Your traditions seem warm and worth continuing. Blessings to you and yours over the holiday season and beyond.