I have been thinking about the phrase “Happy Holidays” lately. Ever so often I will see or hear a complaint from someone about people wishing eachother a “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” rather than “merry Christmas.” This is usually followed by something about “keeping the Christ in Christmas” and a complaint about out-of-control political correctness or anti-Christian hysteria.
I must admit, I find this move on behalf of secular refreshing. The powers-that-be have discovered that it is actually in their best interest to appeal to the broadest market possible during the holidays and that means that the celebration of what is now a parochial minority holiday is just too specific and not inclusive enough to generate optimum profits. They don’t need us honest church-goin’ folk anymore! As someone who takes the “Christ” part of Christmas very seriously I am more than glad to relinquish the association of the birth of the One sent to consume us in to the life of God with the orgy of consumer decadence that begins with every “shopping season.” The phrase “Happy Holy-Days” is probably far more descriptive of the priorities of our culture, anyway.
Far too long has Christian faith played handmaiden to dominant cultures. Christians should, perhaps, worry less about a few words spoken to the cashier at Wal-Mart and more about the word made flesh in our lives and in our communities. Maybe then some day we can say something like “Merry Christmas” and really mean it.
Well, Ryan…I guess I like you because, in your somewhat knee-jerk Christian radicalism, you remind me of my dear father (who would be 95, if he were still alive). Every Christmas season, my equally dear, but somewhat less educated and ‘deep’ mother, would bring out the lights and ornaments and somewhat ugly Christmas “villages” to decorate the house.
And every year, my father would groan, “Oh, no – here comes all the Christmas trash, again…”
The light of love did not always fill our house at Christmas.
Hey Susan–good to hear from you. I can’t really tell if you liked or disliked the post. Maybe you’re just being playful
It was supposed to be a gentle prodding – but perhaps I’m the one who needs that.
Sometimes we get so caught up in ideas (however true they are) that we forget about actual people.
I think Jesus said something to the rich man about, “give everything you have to the poor, and follow me.”
Silly me, I always wonder how the poor man felt, who got all the unwanted stuff.
(I was very ill several months ago, and I’m much better now, but a little crazy….)
Susan–I am sorry to hear you were ill. What was wrong?
I was in hospital for 9 days in June/July. There were lots of dire interim diagnoses from the Emergency Dept. and Special Services (Internal Medicine) Dept., but the one that stuck was from Cardiology – heart failure.
Then, when I got home my (other) heart failed. In the old days, they would have called it a nervous breakdown, my husband called it ‘crazy.’
Physically, my heart damage is almost completely reversed, according to my last echo-cardiogram. They seem to be leaning towards a virus that caused all this.
Mentally (spiritually?) I am also doing much better, despite being firmly plugged into endless medication and medical appointments and tests, which make me more than a little nervous.
I am beginning to come to terms with the fact that I am a total wimp: scared to death of dying, and being old ain’t so hot, either.
Cheers to you & yours.