Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everyone out there a very merry Christmas - or happy Hanuka - or whatever else you may celebrate this time of year.  As I sat to write this, I was going to give some simple, thoughtless, and generic stuff just like most folks at this time.  But - I've never been one to be 'generic' or PC.  So....  here goes...

As I have grown up, the activities surrounding this time of year continue to amaze me.  As a guy with a "mixed" religious background and varying beliefs, I often feel conflicted this time of year. 

While I grew up celebrating Christmas "real big" as a kid, as I have grown up and learned more about the history of Christmas and how it came into being, I am not so inclined to 'go big' as an adult.  Most, if not all 'traditional' customs have nothing to do with anything in the bible and, in reality, are rooted in paganism.  But I'm sure most of you know that already, so no shocker there.  But it makes me wonder what people actually think when they say we have to "remember Christmas for what it was" and "put Christ back into Christmas" - since, well, it was never really there to begin with. 

Also, as I learned more about the bible as I grew up, it seems to me that we are instructed more to remember and 'celebrate' Jesus's death and resurrection rather than his birth.  Yeah, I get it that without the former, the latter could not have occurred.  And I know that's what Easter is also all about.  But the bible is very clear about how to remember his death Very little is mentioned about what to do to remember his birth.  So again, going back to the scriptures, I am conflicted as to which one should be most remembered.   

I am also a bit disgusted at how commercial it has become and how 'freaky' people get.  It amazes me how folks can look me right in the eye and question me for not putting up decorations and then talk smack about their most recent shopping trip when someone 'cut them off' or does something else to anger them.  If nothing else, shouldn't we be a bit more tolerant and forgiving this time of year if, in fact, this time of year is about the birth of our Savior?

Anyway - those are just a few thoughts that run through my little brain this time of year.  Don't get me wrong - I love giving stuff to my boys and seeing their smiles this time of year.  In fact, we rarely make it to Christmas day before having most things opened already.  But we also don't go thousands of dollars on gifts.  They get plenty - but really - the amount some people I know spend is ridiculous.  At the end of the day, it shouldn't be about all that anyway, should it?  If someone can be inspired to read the bible, do something good for someone else, or make someone smile - then, really, that's all good, right??

But regardless - I guess that's enough.  As I mentioned at the start - I wish you all a merry Christmas to everyone who may happen to read this.  And Happy New Year to you all as well.  I sincerelly hope that 2012 brings you all the happiness, success, and peace you could ever want!!