Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!
Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Well, hello there.
I made a bit of an unceremonious decision last week to skip an article. I’ll be skipping next week’s as well, since it falls on Christmas and, well, the reason why should be obvious. Aside from that, I need to take a bit to figure out what it is I want to write on and plan things out. But that’s for future me. As for current me, I’m doing what I can to get myself in the Christmas spirit.
That’s been easier said than done this year. I’ve been busy, stressed, and concerned about the state of things at a personal, family, and overall level. I’ve been stretching myself thin and feeling the fatigue that comes with it. Doesn’t help that it’s been right at the 80s down here this past week, and that’s just stupid. Not that I’m begging for another freeze, but come on, there’s some wiggle room there.
Since I’ve been struggling to think about what to write, a friend of mine mentioned some commentary on the degradation of Christmas to little more than just a frenzy of consumerism. I thought I’d probably do just that, but as I sat down to start I decided to go a different route. I do a lot of writing on the negative aspect of things here – people seem to be more drawn to that sort of thing, and it’s often easier to write – so I thought it might behoove me to go about it the opposite way. Try something positive, for a change. You know, to be in the Christmas spirit.
Now that I’m a decrepit old man with children fast approaching their teenage years, I’d like to think I’m starting to grow in wisdom. Maybe that’s hubris, but I spend so much time observing the world as it is, considering what it could be, and both digesting and creating other ones that I’m more empathetic than I used to be. I find there’s a lot of talk about empathy in political discourse, but it never amounts to anything more than a means to try and score points with an electorate or a cudgel to hit the opposition. Maybe now, as Advent comes to a close, we can work to understand just what that empathy can do.
It is, after all, a big part of the nativity narrative. Of the Christian narrative as a whole, even. We’re not often looked upon as the most empathetic types, and that’s to our detriment. We are meant to be, after all – why else can none of us cast the first stone? Christ’s entire message was to fix ourselves and be a voice to those around the world. That’s a simplistic observation, but a true one. We are to lead by example. Not to judge, but guide. To work to understand those around us so that we can better serve them. That goal, that ideal, is why people find such ease in labeling so many of us hypocrites – we all are. We have these ideals and we fall short by our very nature. And that’s fine, it’s always going to be the case. That’s why, as I’ve said before, we can never fulfill out mission here on earth. We can’t be perfect, but we can keep trying to get closer every day.
So, while you’re dealing with unreasonable people doing last minute shopping, angry customers, snippy kids, and whatever else rears its head; take a breath, wish them well, and continue on. There’s a lot of garbage out there in the world today, the least we can do is make sure we’re not contributing. After that, we can start cleaning up.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Give your loved ones a hug, tell them what they mean to you, and make their day that much brighter. Give a stranger a reason to smile. Make someone’s job easier. Think positively. It won’t be easy – again, garbage – but it will be worth it.
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