If we scrutinize enough, we may see the other meaning of Christmas - commercialism. But is this the true meaning of Christmas? Seldom can we hear saying that Christmas is the time of Christ... That it is the time to focus on the birth of Christ, on what his birth has brought to the world.
Christmas as prescribed, is the time of giving, gifts or whatever. We are taught to give, that it is better to give than to receive. But is this truly the essence of why there is Christmas?
For so long a time, Christmas is celebrated, always celebrated in every nook of the world where Christ is known. Even in Muslim countries, Christmas is celebrated by a few believers. Long before the advent of commerce, probably, Christ's birth is being remembered.
I am not a bible scholar nor I know everything about the history of Christmas. From what I learned and supposed to learn when I was a kid, Christmas is the time to forgive, a time to give something heartily, a time to contemplate on the blessings that we receive.
A time to forgive.
Christmas is the part of the year where reunions abound. Relatives come together for a get together party. Officemates do the usual Christmas parties. Hotels and restaurants are busy preparing for the catering that they are serving. It is merry-making for all. But it should also be time to ask forgiveness and forget all the little misunderstandings, even big ones. Because this is the time where everyone is present to witness the re-unification, if that's the word, of two suffering souls. This is more lasting than just a one-on-one confrontation. When Christ first enhaled his first oxygen, he started making sacrifices, his forgiving stance commenced which ended at the cross.
A time to give something heartily.
We may not know it but there are really times that you feel giving because it's the appropriate thing to do. There are also times that even if the situation calls for giving, we don't feel anything, just the obligation to give. Giving during Christmas should be different from giving in any other day of the year. It should be special. It may not be as grand as treating a whole orphanage to a good sumptuous meal but it should a well received and memorable one. Any gift is special as long as it is given with love. And try giving something but do it secretly. Give something to somebody through somebody to make it anonymous. It fells more satisfying seeing somebody happy because of you when that person doesn't know that it came from you.
A time to contemplate on the blessings that we receive.
In our day to day sacrifices and hardwork, we are given gifts from above. The life we live, the love we feel, the wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong, the strength we use to stride, everything we have each day are gifts. If we indulge enough into browsing our minds thinking of these little gifts that we have, don't you find any urge to celebrate it? Christmas is the time of the year to cherish the moments, happy or sad, to find ways how we can thank the Lord for it. Any good doings to compensate these gifts is good enough for Him. Let's thank Him this Christmas for the gifts, big or small, good or bad, for these made us what we are today.
In the end, how can we separate Christmas from commercialism? How can we revert back to the old meaning of Christmas? How can we give without expecting something all because its Christmas? How can we thank the Lord above for all the things there is?
If there will be an answer to this, Christmas will never be the same again because it will be so dull and boring.
If so, are we here to celebrate Christmas the way it is celebrated today even if we know that its spirit is not the same as what its suppose to be? Are we here to continue giving gifts and hoping all the while that we receive gifts valuable than what we gave? Are we going to celebrate Christmas just because we are obliged to do so?
Christmas as we see it today is confusing. We do something while we think of other things. It is a struggle between reality and what is actually seen. We can actually see people smiling and keep smiling because its Christmas but in reality, it's only superficial. Deep inside lies the problem on how to celebrate Christmas.
Are you bothered by this article? I am not... This is just the fruit of some of my sleepless nights...
posted by The STRUGGLE between REALITY and what is SEEN. @ 7:43 AM
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