Last
Sunday evening, as I was relaxing after a wonderful day of worship and activity
at the church, I caught the end of 60 Minutes. Andy Rooney was doing his commentary to end the program, and
he spoke about the “commercialization of a non-commercial holiday.” He was, of course, talking about …
Thanksgiving! What?! Really?! While true enough, Thanksgiving is not a commercial holiday,
Andy seemed to imply that Christmas was, making references to “Santee Claus,”
and the sort.
On
November 10, I took the Pilgrim Youth Fellowship bowling. While we enjoyed our time smashing
little wooden pins down with our bowling projectiles, we were amazed to hear
that we were being serenaded by Christmas music. They had Christmas music playing on November 10! Never mind stepping on
Thanksgiving. We had not even
celebrated Veterans’ Day yet.
Am
I, was I outraged? No. Not really. What is wrong with a little extra Christmas? The scene from the musical Mame
comes to mind, and the song, We Need a Little Christmas. “Oh we need a little Christmas, right
this very minute, candles in the window, carols on the spinet. … For I’ve grown
a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little
older, and I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder. … For we need a little
music, need a little laughter, need a little singing ringing through the
rafter, and we need a little snappy, ‘Happy ever after,’ need a little
Christmas now.”
With
the times and the world the way they are, who does not need a little Christmas? Even as the world seems ready to spin
out of control, we can remain rooted and hold fast to the Eternal Emmanuel –
“God with us.” As we light the
candles on the Advent wreath we ponder the words Hope, Peace, Joy and
Love. As we celebrate once again
the wondrous birth of Jesus Christ, and the fulfillment of the promise of the
prophets, we do know that God’s steadfast love endures forever.
“Oh
we need a little Christmas, right this very minute” … and every minute! May the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of Christmas
be with you and your family today, tomorrow, and every day.