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| UU's celebrating but not buying the virgin birth mythology, the heavenly hosts, nor a whole bunch of the magical elements of this intriguing story. |
The Christmas Eve Service is beautiful no doubt, but our minister is always having to justify the service and help make it make sense to humanists, agnostics, atheists and deists alike. No easy task to be sure. This year I feel the San Francisco UU interim minister provided a particularly good rationalization for our dichotomy of faith during the Yuletide season.
He spoke of the war that Fox News claims is happening against Christmas! Fox believes that saying things like Happy Holidays and any number of transgressions against this spending bacchanalian is really an attempt to destroy Christmas. The interim minister reminds us that this is not only a season of Christian ideals but that many of the traditions and symbolism comes from different cultures and from different religions, including more than a healthy dose of paganism. Fox News is I sensed by the black Santa in New York's Macy's. The minister explains that the current mythology surrounding Santa is a compilation of many different Saints and historical figures. This includes the practice of giving presents to kids on December 6th, a tradition perpetuated by St. Nicholas, a Greek/Turkish Saint, decidedly not a white Santa!
The real spirit of the holiday is in the hope and faith generated by the birth of a child, really any child, as we get set to embark on the cruelest and darkest days of the year. It is a time of generosity and forgiveness. It is a time we look upon the sins and transgressions of our past and bathe them in a blanket of renewal.
It is also a time of generosity. Generosity is perhaps the greatest gift we can bestow upon ourselves. Giving of our selves during this time has nothing to do with bolstering the economy or supporting American businesses, rather it is a time for us to say to one another that here are small tokens of affections for someone we love. No, it doesn't always take the form of a present, often it is our time and talents as well.
The Christmas Miracle is really in our collective good will, our mutual agreement that for the time being we are going to be generous and show our love...we'll put aside our pettiness to share the warmth we are feeling. Giving of ourselves is truly good for our own souls.
The minister also called into question the practice of celebrating the start of a life and then a few months later accepting the death of that life as an act of forgiveness of sin. We do not believe, as many fundamentalists, we come into this world sinners, therefore we shouldn't expect anyone to die for forgiveness of our own transgressions, rather we should work to better our lives, be better people to one another, and be forgiven by learning to forgive others. Not easy to be sure! It almost seems like cheating to allow someone to die for your own mistakes.
Anyhow, I know this is all just justification for sitting in a church on Christmas Eve when I have personal "issues" with that ancient book, the Bible, but the music at the church was excellent, the candle light was atmospheric and warm, and people were generous of spirit. My tactic is to live in the moment, enjoy the good feeling surrounding me. The Christmas Story is also a great tale, and from this tale, we can take away the feeling of hope to warm our long nights. Can we ask for more?
Ok friends, When I asked on Facebook how to get into the spirit of the holiday season, many of you assumed I meant how to get into the spirits of the holiday season...lots of suggestions regarding particularly frothy drinks like eggnog, hot toddies, Bourbon, etc. Many of you recommended Christmas movies or particular songs...all good suggestions but still not quite putting me in that holiday frame of mind. Here it is Christmas and I feel a little cheated...although the UU Mythological Christmas Pageant almost did it, the cold doses of UU reality do have a tendency to drive away the Harry Potter worthy magical elements of the story. Maybe my visit to North Carolina will assist in this endeavor.
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| Mom, in front of her new 7' CHristmas tree. I miss the old smaller tree, ratchet to be sure, but an enjoyable challenge to decorate... |
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| A family portrait, Allyssa, Rick, Mom and Haven |
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| Our loved one's down under sweating their asses off but still sporting Yosiell Lorenzo originals! |
I am proud of my attempts to shop as locally as possible his year. Most gifts given to others have been locally made or from small businesses. Most but not all... We've also managed to support a few Oakland artists as well. Ardley Avenue is a veritable cottage industry Mecca. On our street alone, a jam maker, candle maker, several artists, and a soap maker (in my kitchen). I'm pretty sure somewhere we have neighbors with chickens...craft DIYers, With all of this talent, this street might even survive the Apocalypse.
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| Oaklandish hats for the guys! |
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| A quarterly membership to the Cask Small Batch Bourbon Club, and assurance that I'll have friends until we cancel the club membership… |
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| A portrait of me, but Yosiell, the DIYer extraordinaire. |
OK friends, I'm sitting in the Goldsboro Starbucks getting ready to post this…just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you as we near the New Year's. I'll be back to Oakland on December 31, and back to regular internet access. Keep me in your warm wishes as you drink your midnight champagne, kiss your loved ones, and make your resolutions.
1 comment:
Tell your mom that I LOVE her tree! It looks great! What have you got against big trees? :)
I hope you have a wonderful time back in the old North State . . . we miss you out here.
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