Citizen Columns
Question
How does the commercial side of Christmas impinge on your faith life - regardless of what religion you are?
Answer
Crass consumerism is around all year and while it is irritating and ugly it’s not too hard to ignore, and I don’t do much shopping anyway at other times. So my annual dose of commercialism is at Christmas, and usually only just a few days before the stores close and everyone can take a rest. As fewer and fewer shopping days remain the crowds get bigger and the stress increases as the time gets shorter to accomplish everything we are accustomed to doing for the full celebration of Christmas: decorations, Christmas tree trimming, preparing Christmas foods, gifts to be bought, getting the house ready for returning sons (and now their girlfriends), arranging for visits to relatives in the US (are we taking the dog?). And of course making sure everything is in place for Christmas services at church. But strangely, perhaps because it is my one period of concentrated shopping time, the commercial side of Christmas doesn’t bother me. In fact I find it oddly uplifting.
When I can finally go out into the crowds it signals to me that my university work is over for another semester. It means a holiday is at hand, that I’ll have a couple of weeks off before the new semester begins, that I’ll be able to focus on special church services, the children coming home for Christmas and seeing other family members. It’s something of an oasis in an otherwise too busy year. It means I’ve also saved up a few dollars to spend on gifts, and I enjoy being able to think about each person, what they need and might like, making a list while I sip a cup of coffee in a bookstore coffee shop and listening to Christmas music wafting through the store. The tune is a wordless carol, but I know the words and they come to mind as I sit there thinking about my list. “Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born king.” The crowds are getting bigger, noisier, but even the commercial side of Christmas brings moments of blessing.
With love in Christ,
Fr. John
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