Taking It Back
It’s only fair, I suppose. What goes around comes around. We Christians stole this season from the heathens some 1700 years-and-change ago, and now the heathens are taking it back.
Be clear here: I don’t mean modern-day identified Pagans. I respect them as I respect the followers of any other religion. No, by ‘heathens’ I mean morons like these, who have turned this season into an excuse for an all-out disgusting greedfest. Or morons like these, who, not content with asking Christians to reasonably shove over a bit and share, feel the need to cross-check Jesus out of the picture entirely. Nothing says “celebrate the light in the darkness” like lawsuits and fistfights, right?
Christians aren’t off the hook, either. This season’s ’heathens’ include a horde of self-identified Christians who will scream ‘Merry CHRISTMAS!!!‘ at anyone who wishes them happy holidays. Not helping, folks, not helping.
Either I’m getting grumpier or this season’s getting uglier. Maybe both. In any event, I have decided that this is the year I’m Taking It Back. Avoiding the retail madness and bombardier advertising as much as humanly possible, I’m taking it back 2000 years – letting the heathens have the modern season, and moving to more ancient rhythms. Night, Star. Wind, Song. Despair, Hope. Past, Present, Future. Holy. Baby.
As poet Joyce Carol Oates wrote, “This is all there is and this is everything.” The mess and the madness are still there when I open my eyes, but somehow, they’re a whole lot less There than they were.
Blessed Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Kwanzaa, Enjoy Your Holidays, or insert your own greeting here. For me, it’s a blessed and blessing Advent.
Mad God Woman
Good post. I laughed at your opening, it is sooo true. The world is going to be the world but only God’s people are supposed to be God’s people.
thanks for the comment and the follow! Church of Christ…as in Restoration Movement? If so, we’re cousins.
Yep, the restoration movement. Always an effort that needs to be renewed each generation. Look forward to your next posts.