Topic: Dailies

Christmas Is More Than Parties

by

Leo Crocker Rogers

Christmas is a singular event, a white-star time of gratitude for Jesus the Christ (the opposite of a black hole where all light and emotions are sucked in.)

It was 1962 when I was visiting Tokyo. It was just before Christmas. I had made arrangements to attend services at the local Christian Science Church. When I arrived in Japan and walked into the New Otoni hotel, to my surprise, there was somewhat of a holiday spirit. Okay, no super big surprise, but definitely a surprise. It was Sunday the next day so I attended church, and it seemed that once again there was a festive atmosphere. So I asked about Christianity in Japan. Now mind you, I was baffled because I thought that the religions of Japan were Shinto and Buddhism along with Confucianism and Taoism. Yet the holiday decorations seemed very Christian in nature. At church, I was told that Christianity was not a major religion in Japan, but that I might enjoy going to the Ginza and downtown areas.

Holy Christmas! There was an entire department store, one block square by seven or more stories tall, that were selling everything Christmas one could conceive. I was flabbergasted. I had never seen such outlandish reveling in Christmas.

So, it was in Tokyo that I discovered the simultaneous celebrations of Christmas and another even more elaborate event -- Santa Claus time. In contrast to the Christmas celebration of a child born in an animal manger, Santa Claus time was an elaborate party time -- a time of good cheer, bright lights, good meals, hugs and kisses under mistletoe, and times off work to eat, drink and be merry. In Tokyo, this Claus time was rampant. The definition of commerciality is Tokyo in December. Things. Things, and more things, until the bells of things rang in the hotel, in the taxi cabs, and in the office buildings. "Come ye merry gentlemen, spend, spend, spend your good money with us." In this non-Christian country, Christmas was Claus time.

On my way home, I stopped by Anchorage, Alaska. It was dark and cold. From the hotel to downtown, everything was snow-covered and dark. Finally, I found the Penny's store. Once through the door, I was in Tokyo again. The music of the Ventures was playing and things, things, things to buy. In the black and cold of an Alaskan winter, there was Claus celebration.

When I arrived in Arizona, I decorated my Claus tree with colorful balls and bright and sparking lights. I also decorated my apartment. At work, we celebrated with parties, ate delicious sugar cookies, and sang. Funny thing about the songs.

There were some funny songs and others about winter events, but many of the songs were about a little boy named Jesus.

What did my parents read to me the night of Christmas eve? They read from a plain-covered and worn book that had other books inside. The book from which they read was the Gospel of Luke. And we talked about the birth of Jesus, of Mary, and of the Holy Ghost.

I had, then, and now even more today, a choice to buy, buy, buy and cry, cry, cry for the emptiness of Claus Day where there were/are parties, good food, mistletoe, and the stress of time to do this and that or to spend time with Luke.

Today, there are those who prefer to celebrate Claus Day rather than Christmas Day. I say that because at the time of Christmas, there are stores, radio stations, and work places that intentionally exclude Christ from Christmas in preference to the glitz of Claus.

But you know, to me, the psychologist's prediction of sadness during Claus time is a predictable consequence of the black-hole experience of the Claus-commerciality. Such sadness is not present when one focuses on the white-star of the Christ, the time to honor God's son on earth. So I conclude.

Happiness is party time. It was Claus time in the ‘60s, and it is in 2007.

Joy, on the other hand, is respect and honor time. Joy is comprehending the significance of Jesus being born in a manger because there was no room in the Bethlehem Hilton, much less the Motel 6. Joy is knowing that God governs, not commercialism. Joy is having lived through a broken hip, the passing of one's father/mother or son/daughter, three root canals, being fired, or having to experience a divorce. Joy is knowing that this day, this very day, the story by Luke means there is life eternal. Be we in a den of lions, in a fiery furnace, or on a cross-experience in our life, we are on earth to bring goodness and to receive the same from those that love God. This is not impossible with Christ. It is impossible with Claus. Giving pause to Claus is venturing into the black hole of emotions.

How much of a year is a bowl of cherries for us? Say, 20%. Those are happy times. And that is nice. But for the 80% of the year, when we are figuratively in the den, in the furnace, or on a cross, we need the Christ. Christmas is a singular white-star time to be grateful that one man was born and subsequently went to the cross that we can face this world with strength and joy.

I am going out on a limb to say this, but I feel Jesus was not happy about his crucifixion, but that he had a sense of joy knowing that the resurrection was ahead and a required event for those who were to populate the world henceforth.

We are that hoi polloi. Is there one possible part of our life where we can say, "The world is going to be better for our being here?" Christmas is either the time to acknowledge that we are doing just that, or the time to commit to doing just that.

Joy is eternal.

This year has been no different than any other -- challenges galore. But from Tokyo in the 1960s to today in 2007, we need to be clear as to the difference between Claus Time and Christmas time.

So, when we sing this Christmas season, let us sing of the joy of the white-star of the Christ who was born as Jesus, so that you and I can overcome our limitations and thus be joyful in making a difference in this world.

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who to God for your refuge have fled:

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand;

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."

Our Christly gold has worth. Christmas is a joy of the heart, not a party of the brain. Christmas reminds us of this important fact in our life.

Merry Christmas. It is a joy.