I feel certain the "cinnamon" scented candle on the end table next to me smells wonderful but I'm fighting a bit of a cold so I can't know for sure. The lit Christmas tree over my shoulder in our den sparkles against the backdrop of a dreary day as the forecast calls for rain. Throw in the gentle fire and the Christmas music playing on the iPod and there's no doubt as to what time of the year it is. This is a nice moment.
But there are some strange ideas out there about why the moment is so nice. On the radio, the advertisement tells me this season is all about "spending time with the family" - and apparently, "family time" will be meaningless if I don't purchase their product. A guy on TV just put a gazillion Christmas lights on his house and told the interviewer "This is what Christmas is all about!". And the kid in the elementary school Christmas program just sang a song that proclaimed to the audience "Santa comes down the chimney to bring joy...and peace on earth"! Everyone clapped, but to be fair, I think it's because that kid is really cute in his santa suit.
I wonder if people actually know what's going on. If they don't, do they at least want to know why we celebrate and Who we're celebrating? Christmas traditions are nice and all with the sparkling trees and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but "nice" becomes "life-changing" when you really get what's happening. This is my prayer...that "...unto us a Child is born..." becomes the shimmering glitter of the life transformed by pondering just how "on earth, peace goodwill toward men" finally arrived.
