Dear Christmas,

Okay you're finally here in my estimation (realistically you're here as soon as Thanksgiving ends), that means I'll not sneer (too much) at all the cheesy Christmas stuff. But really we have such a complicated relationship, don't we? Initially as a kid it was Jesus and Gifts. We would read the story of Christ's birth in Luke, watch A Charlie Brown Christmas (paying special attention to the "true meaning of Christmas" moment), have a big Christmas meal, and buy and get tons of gifts. And cookies and a Christmas tree, can't forget those.

But all I really remember when it comes down to it was the pomp and circumstance and gifts. It wasn't a bad thing, but when people started pushing for keeping the Christ in Christmas, sure I knew he was the reason, but I couldn't always see him over all the noise and tinsel.

I guess I've just always found you to be overwhelming. I'm a live-in-the-moment kind of person, I mostly like to do short term planning, like the next three weeks max. It seems like once December first hits, I'm already behind. That's really not your fault, Christmas, if anything it's the quiet indoctrination of advertising for holiday sales that start in early November. It would be okay if it was just my enthusiastic friends going on about your loveliness, but lately it seems all I can remember and focus on is the consumerism and not the festivity and joy and you know, Jesus.

So, Christmas, this year I really want to have a good time with you. So I'm going to try and remember the best parts of you this year. Less of the gifts and pushy commercials more of the Jesus and good times with people. So yes to cheesy movies, if it means I'm sitting close to people I love. No, to going to Target if it's just going to be an exhausting, pointless trip (okay who am I kidding it's never pointless to go to Target). Yes, to things that make me feel happy and connected like writing Christmas letters and going to a Christmas Eve Service.

I know, Christmas, it's always been me. Deep down you've always been a mish-mash of traditions and rituals and I can celebrate you in the ways that are most meaningful to me (after all Christmas, you have always been a mix of secular and sacred only celebrated in the way most Americans know it today because the early Christians adopted it from the Roman holiday Saturnalia). So I'm going to do my best this year to focus on the stuff that matters to me and forget the rest. As long as I know what's important and am practicing and sharing in Christ's love this holiday season all the rest is tinsel on the tree.

Love,

A Quiet Christmas Celebrator