Tis the Season - Already?

I overheard two people talking over the weekend. One said that their family was going to have a simple Christmas this year - no big gifts and overspending. It was half said out of sadness and half out of relief. We actually have a reason to start looking at Thanksgiving and seeing what we are thankful for, we have a chance to embrace the miracle of Hanukkah, and we have a shot at feeling the joy and the spirit of Christmas.

Oh My!

In the last few years the commercialization of these coming holidays has gotten out of hand, ridiculously gluttonous, and downright embarrassing to be around. Children have come to feel entitled to all of the gifts on their wish list, and like Dudley Dursley, whine, "but there were 34 presents last year, is that all?"

When did it all happen? When did Christmas get to be only about presents? When did we okay the ads starting before Halloween? Enough! I am grateful for a recession that forces to look at less and maybe see beyond the stacks of Barbies and model AK-47s and see that we actually are celebrating a rather special version of god's twisted little game - a surprise entrance where we least expected it - with a pregnant out of wedlock teen, displaced with her fiance to a place where no one welcomed them, to give birth in a stinking barn. Leave it to god to pull off that one!

So don't be surprised when godliness makes a guest appearance or shows up, like the oil that kept burning, and refuses to be what we expect. Don't spend this holiday. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family. Pray in church and at home - not for our selves or for our wish list but for others, for enemies, for people who have even less. Fall is the season of gathering - gathering the apples and the harvest - gathering together. Maybe we have a chance to do it in an uncluttered way this year.