Commercialism is a Real Grinch 2.0

Oh yes it's been a while. I can't remember the last time I posted an entry....Well actually I can 'cause it kind of shows the date...But you know what I mean. Now I'm sure some of you have questions for me, such as: "Hey Sean, what the heck is '2.0' supposed to mean?" or "Hey Sean, why does Jake Box smell funny?"-Just kidding about that one...(Hopefully he won't notice). Well let me answer the first question right quick, 2.0 is obviously better than 1.0, this is the one thing we actually learned from AOL back in its 'heyday'. So it's no wonder that I'd give you the better version for a post. I chose 2.0 for I'd already written 1.0 on my facebook account, but due to the fact that some of those readers are less susceptible to my faith-oriented opinions, I thought I'd give y'all the cream of the crop as I always strive to do. Just because I like y'all more. No, no, it's true, y'all are a classy bunch. But now we must move on, here are my current thoughts on Christmas.

I won't lie to you, since I was but a young wipper-snapper I've been infactuated by the timeless holiday. The very feel of the season with all it's music, decorations, food, and TOYS. All of it had this unusually awesome attraction to me, and why wouldn't it? Each day I waited for Jolly Old Saint Nick just made my excitement grow that much more, only to feel saddened December 26th when all of it was over. And thus, that's pretty much how Christmas went for me...Back then. As I got older the story changed. When I could finally reflect more on this date my thoughts expanded and formed the eventual thoughts expanded upon and formed by yours truly. You see, I have a slight problem with it all right now. And you might perceive me as a Scrooge for it, but let me explain myself.

Christmas is no where near what it should be. There. I said it. And I said it for somewhere down the line 'They*' got a hold of it and manipulated it to remove all Spiritual connection. Somehow the economy played its cards and confused a society to why we even celebrate Christmas in the firt place. The evidence is obvious when even the half-truth of it all (Being that Christmas is a time for giving and community with family and friends and loving eachother, not to mention donating some cash in the red bucket) has been erased by commercialism's campaign to make a lot of money. There's nothing wrong with giving, it's the price tag and connotation that makes my stomach upset. But even my sensitive stomach goes beyond that, for this is hardly anything than the number time has done on the real concept of Christmas.
*Best Buy, Circiut City, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penny's, Kohls, Target; just a few of the big names upon an endless list.

As any of y'all know, Christmas was the day we chose to commemorate Christ's birth. And as I'm sure you're aware of, He's kind of a big deal in the Christian faith, so we choose to celebrate big time. And this is the sum of any Sunday School lesson: Christmas is about Jesus' birthday....YEEEEAAAHHH!.......But even that falls short of the truth to some degree. That's not the only reason we celebrate and this is where many churches have done their part in complicating the story. Let me give the quick 101 here.

Christ came down to earth humbly, as a child born of a virgin-Christmas. He grew up and lived a perfect life, did many great and wonderful miracles to further prove God's presence. After the world had had a good thing going for 33 years we killed Him, and hung Him on a cross-Good Friday. The story would seem to end here, and we would think it should, but 3 days later He rose again-Easter-thus proving God's power, God's persistence, and most of all, God's love to us.

And there it is. Did you catch it? Christmas is celebrated because of the fact that God loves us. And He proved His love by His birth which lead to His living a life that lead to a death, that lead to a rescue for the hearts of His children. Move your Kings around a lot more this year, 'cause your nativity scene goes a whole step further now. But that's the truth of it. There really isn't a mystery other than why God loves us. Christmas comes full circle with Easter which is just sooooo big that we had to give it a handful of holidays to handle it all. The funny thing is that God is soooo big, that even all of this can't ever allow us to wrap our minds around the Love that is Christ Jesus.

I love Charlie Brown. I'm aware Box mentioned this in his talk, but I've loved the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special" since I was just a tike. This is the only program on at this time that actually points you in the right direction to what Christmas is really about and doesn't make up some lame answer like going to the Chevy Red Tag Clearence sale. I'm not gonna spoil it for any sad individual who has not experienced such an animated wonder, but take my word that Schultz' heart was in the right place when he created it.

All in all, this Christmas I want you to take a deeper look at what Christmas has and means to you now. And I want you to fully realize why you are celebrating, and I want you to just remember, that when you celebrate Christmas you celebrate Love that goes beyond anything we could ever comprehend. But that's God for you, because He really does love us that much.

As I close, there's a quote I really love from Dr. Suess' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and while it doesn't flat-out tell you, it makes the point clear that Christmas isn't summed up in a box.

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...?Well...in Who-ville they say That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!And he...

...HE HIMSELF...!The Grinch carved the roast beast!