Being Prepared...

Its just about time for Santa to do his thing again this year. Several years ago my daughter told "the man with all the toys" (to quote a Beach Boys' lyric) what she would like him to bring her for Christmas. And we prepared for an expected Christmas-Eve visit. We did our part to make Santa feel welcome when he brought those items that had been requested. We set out hot chocolate and home-made sugar cookies. And, my daughter wrote Santa a note. The note said "Thank you" for the gifts that would be placed under the tree and it also asked this question: "Are you right-handed or left-handed?" I'm not sure why that was important to my daughter, but that was the question. You would want to know that Santa answered that question to my daughter's satisfaction.

In the church, over the past four Sundays, we have been preparing for Christmas 2010. We have invited ourselves to look forward to the annual arrival of the incarnation of Love, and Joy, and Hope, and Peace. It occurs to me that a note could be left at the church after the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service that might offer a "Thank you" to God for the Gift and the gifts we know God has and will bring our way. Maybe we could also ask God to answer a question...not which-handed God is, but maybe something like "Why would you do this wonderful thing for us every year?" Or, maybe "Is there something you would like us to do in return for all you have done for us?"

That could prove interesting.

I have heard (and seen in print) several folks lament that they hear "Happy Holidays" more than they hear "Merry Christmas" at this time of year. Some are vowing not to shop at stores who advertise their goods with "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." The complaints go on.
And so, I wonder...I wonder because I do not know for sure...although I do suspect.
-I wonder what persons of other faith traditions in our neighborhoods think about being expected to wish folks, or have themselves wished with, "Merry Christmas."
-I wonder why some folks think that how the holiday season is advertised defines the holiday season.
-I wonder if some who are really upset with the lack of enough "Merry Christmas" wishes and advertisements will nonetheless consider Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, or even the Grinch as suitable Merry Christmas symbols.
-I wonder if behind some of the complaints about the shortage of "Merry Christmas" greetings is really a nostalgia for wonderful Christmas holidays gone bye...for returning things to the way it used to be in an imagined better time of life.
-I wonder how central the Christ of "Merry Christmas" is to our lives the remainder of the year; and what greetings are exchanged that might display that.