the month of December

 Cabin on Lake Louise, Alberta. My favourite from a series of awesome snow pictures found here: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/let_it_snow.html

There is no snow in St. John's right now. And to be truthful, I don't mind. Living in Victoria and Vancouver on the coast of BC got me liking the rainy winters. I do love snow, but not the snow of the Avalon Peninsula where we live here in Newfoundland.  Because it's such a funny piece of land stuck right into the north Atlantic, we get awful precipitation. It snows like crazy, but then it will be raining a few hours later, leaving a slushy, gross mess. That just piles up on the street. Getting anywhere by foot is a messy, dangerous, sloppy and dirty business. So, I don't mind this mild rain. If I was living somewhere that got powdery luxurious fluffy snow, that would be different.

The cabin above does look awfully cozy though.

For some reason this year I have been really struck by the consumeristic nature of Christmas. I remember thinking this last year too, that I noticed it more than any other year. And I think that a lot of it has to do with the people that I work with. Mostly just cause the demographics are different from those I worked with in Vancouver. It's also a different perspective from when I was in school. The majority of them are mothers with children. And there just seems to be a bit of a stressed out, perfectionistic attitude about Christmas and all it entails. 


Let me explain. First the kids have to write their letters to Santa detailing precisely what they want. Not a list of ideas, but the specific items that they want. Feel are absolutely necessary to their survival. Then, the parents look at these lists and begin the mad search to find absolutely every item on that list, down to the last detail. It doesn't matter if they are spending a few hundred dollars on each kid, if they go into debt, if they battle the two malls serving hundreds of square kilometres of Newfoundland, if they shop online. They must find these things or they will be bad parents. They also need to decorate the house absolutely perfectly, and buy gifts for the entire extended family as well. And get the kids pictures with Santa, because it's a yearly tradition and must be done even if they are waiting in the mall with said screaming kids for hours to do so. And through all this perpetuating the whole Santa thing. I heard some of the ladies talking once about "oh, he still believes" "what am I doing to do when she doesn't believe any more?" as though they were talking about something as serious as faith itself. But no, it was about a fantasy man who will bring their kids everything they want, but only if they are good. (It's a good thing that's part of the whole deal, so parents can threaten their kids with it for this entire hectic month when trying to keep them in line).

I know that this all probably sounds a bit cynical. And I am probably exaggerating. And in no way is everyone like that at work. I guess it's more just what I have been noticing more in life in general. I don't think that there is anything wrong with some harmless Santa in people's lives. He can even bring some of the presents, just for fun. Maybe even put out some milk and cookies for him.

As an aside, it's interesting when your last name is Claus. I don't think it does very much for the believability of the whole story. Brian didn't really have much to do with Santa growing up and I feel that it will be pretty much the same for our future children. Hehe.

But I just think that it's a bit sad. People are so busy rushing around that they don't even think about the real reason why we have this holiday in the first place. It is about giving and receiving, among many other things. About hanging out with family and friends and being festive. But, as cliche as it sounds, Jesus is the reason for the season. I can still hear that being sung in my head from elementary school musicals. 


What about that little baby in the manger, the star in the east, the virgin mom and shy carpenter, the humble shepherds and the travelling wise man and Glory to God in the Highest?

I'm all for celebrating. I can't wait to go back to Ontario and see family and just be together. And give them a few gifts. Not too many. Just a few carefully chosen and well thought out ones. Mum will probably have her classic box of chocolates labelled 'From Santa" under the tree. That's about as far as he made it into our house growing up. I look forward to the church services and the carols and the joyful faces on Christmas morning with handshakes- "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" "Ere Zij God"--- the classic Dutch hymn, one of the slowly dwindling remaining signs of my childhood church's heritage. Candles and thankfulness. Joy.

But may we quiet down our busy hearts. Look for the small joys and simple pleasures. Enjoy a glass of egg nog or mulled wine, apple cider and fresh cookies. Take joy in the giving and receiving of gifts. Look at those around us and show them that same love that the baby in the manger brought to us. Or try to, at least. But that's what grace is for.

So, that's what I think. 

Overall, though, the ultimate is this:


O Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.