What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown
Linus reminds us of the true reason of the season
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Here at God of the Desert Books we’ve offered a number of Christmas reflections this season from our regular contributors. Check out these lovely pieces from Fred Tribuzzo, Alec Ott, Tom Cosentino, and Sally Shideler:
I’ve wanted to join in on the holiday cheer, but honestly, it’s just been hard for me to figure out what to say. Earlier this month I wrote two provocative essays explaining how I’d come to see the world in such an oddball outsider, non-conformist way. If there’s a normal, conventional way of seeing anything then chances are I’m going to stand askew from it in some way, unable to ignore troublesome little details which others can look past. And right now I largely feel that way about Christmas too.
This year, back in Indiana for a few months and still struggling with the PTSD symptoms every day, I’m having an especially hard time getting into the holiday spirit. All the various symbols of the holiday on a cultural level - Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, lights strung from houses, Christmas trees, sweet treats and presents - just seem so detached from what the day is supposedly about celebrating, the birth of God as man in the person of Jesus Christ. I suppose this is not unlike what I wrote about for Hanukkah, how the holiday’s true origins and meanings are now usually obscured with its broadly understood emphasis on a menorah whose oil miraculously lasted for eight days rather than one.
But there’s little utility in ranting about the commercialization of the holiday or poking at the pagan elements incorporated into its practice now for centuries. I don’t want to be a Grinch or a Scrooge.
And besides, maybe tomorrow as the holiday unfolds and we’re celebrating with first Sally’s family and then mine I’ll feel a bit better. Hopefully it won’t require visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and especially Future - he’s always so scary! - tonight to get me there. For now I’ll just echo the sentiments of Linus above and plan to reread the opening of the book of Luke in my Bible which serves as this Substack’s logo.
Merry Christmas, everyone!