Why I Hate Christmas, Part II

Ok, so we're back. Where were we? Oh right, Christmas requests...

I think I was stuck in the mindset for so long that Christmas requested me to be a fake plastic snowman, to put on a happy face and pretend all is well when inside I wanted something else. But this is what I came to request of myself. I hated Christmas not so much because of the gathering-bouncing or the present buying, but because Christmas requests something of us that I was very comfortable running and hiding from: Christmas requests that we look at ourselves and face who we are and who we were created to be in light of the Savior coming to live among us.

Let's break for a fond Christmas remembrance from my childhood: In sixth grade I had a PE coach that I think was named Coach Moore (it's funny how all school coaches just assume 'Coach' as their first name). I'm not 100% sure his name was Coach Moore, you'd think by the end of this story that his name would be burned into my memory, yet alas, it is not. I only had him for one year (our school was notorious for going through PE coaches like Rosie goes through spiral cut hams. was that mean? sorry. back to the story. quickly.) Coach Moore was a big and burly black man with a strong, deep voice that worked well to yell at you as you ran the mile or to speak soft encouragements after the game. He used to have a saying every time someone wouldn't dress out or was goofing off too much, "I'm gonna hook ya!" (give you a 'U' or failing grade) Around Christmas time, we all gathered in the gym for the Christmas assembly. Most of the students thought of assemblies as time to goof off and get out of class, and this one was no different. Until the end. I don't remember who it was, but someone asked Coach Moore to sing a Christmas song. My understanding is that it was pretty spontaneous and he was mostly unprepared, but he took the mic and proceeded to sing what would become my favorite Christmas song, with possibly my favorite song lyrics of any song. His voice lit up the gym, shaking the rafters and seemingly moving the brick walls as he sang "Oh, Holy Night." Of course the rafters and walls didn't really shake, but the rafters and walls of my heart did. To this day when I hear that song, especially the version by the band Seven Day Jesus, my heart is stirred and I tear up as I reflect on the power and truth that was spoken that day in the gym. Thanks Coach Moore (I think...)

So back to what Christmas requests of me: It requests that I recognize what's really going on, in my relationships and in my heart. It requests that I reflect on the birth of Jesus, the Incarnation of God and what that event says about me and my fellow human beings and how I am interacting with those fellow human beings. In other words, I cannot remain neutral anymore. I think this is what clicked a few weeks ago as my wife and I fought through traffic in Alderwood. I came to the point at which I was no longer willing to go through the Christmas season not feeling anything about the birth of our Savior, about the people that surround me, and about what's going on inside. I no longer hate Christmas, this time that we set aside to recognize when that we are so important to the living God that he would meet us face to face, calling us to live in the glory we were created to live in. I feel like I'm rambling, so we'll end our time together now. But not without a word from our sponsor:

Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;

Oh night, Oh night divine, Oh night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.