Can we save Christmas?

It is really hard to believe that the holidays are already here. It was two weeks ago when I made my way to Target to discover it was already selling Christmas paraphernalia. Usually I would scoff at such a sight, but rather than my normal cynicism, I discovered a bit of excitement.

I am certainly not a grinch, but for the past few years in particular I have had a hard time experiencing the holidays with a joyful heart. Everything gets so twisted up in materialism and consumerism. I mean, Christmas movies have just become another excuse to make a crappy film with a thin plot about romance and still make money on it. Christmas music is about as unoriginal as it can be, and we all know that the actually 'original' songs are less than stellar. People go into debt to buy each other crap that doesn't mean anything but a temporary high that dies out a day later. I mean, I have written about that before... January becomes the most depressing month ever after they take down all the decorations and all we are left with is dead trees and bitter cold. What a downer! I am pretty sure more people suffer depression in the season right after Christmas than any other, but I have no hard facts to back that up.

I really do love Christmas, but I despise so much of the 'stuff' that surrounds it, that it may be hard for you to tell. Thanksgiving is really my favorite holiday, you still get the [BETTER!] food, but the focus is on family and gratitude and that has seemed to stick over the years. Plus, you don't experience post-traumatic stress when it is over... of course that could have something to do with the next holiday. Either way, I stand by my assertion that Thanksgiving is far superior.

Whatever holiday we are celebrating, I have a feeling this year will be different. NPR agrees with me. It's funny how some economics instability can change your attitude. Consumer activity will suffer, people will have to be more creative with gifts and big fancy toys will be less common. I have to admit that I think the election may help as well. Patriotism is on the rise, almost like right after a terrorist attack, and that tends to bond communities together.

So many churches have already launched effort to transform their holidays through a reform of their giving. Imago Dei in Portland, Oregon last year challenged the entire congregation to make their gifts instead of purchasing them, and to use the money they are saving to build a well in sub-saharan Africa. They ended up with a half of a million dollars.

I don't have a blanket suggestion for what we should do to get this giving thing right this holiday season, but I think we can all use a little evaluation into our spending, whether for the holiday or just normal living, to look at what we value. I know I value new clothes more than I should. I realized this week that I go shopping when I am feeling insecure and even though I may mentally justify the purchase as a 'need,' I really want for nothing and I have an entire closet, a dresser, and two Rubbermaid containers full of clothes, half of which I never wear for no particular reason.

How can we approach this holiday season and stay focused on Christ and not Christmas? How can we get through December without viewing gift giving and receiving as a seasonal, obligatory, task? How can we start to view material things as what they are and not use them for emotional pick-me-ups? How can we learn to value relationships and people more than gifts and food? How can we learn to love others, even those we do not have relationships with, in this season... like we love ourselves?

These are the questions we ask every year. Let's try and answer them this time.