Monday, December 24, 2007

www.whiteville.com

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff writer

I get tired of the hackneyed phrase “hustle and bustle of the holidays,” and if I weren’t so bustled out, I’d try to find a better way to describe it.

As it was, I was too busy saving my own life to ponder the intricacies of the English language. At least the driver of the megasize sport utility – a vehicle which was the epitome of the double contradiction – didn’t take the time to curse me or even make a rude hand gesture.

The big black SUV swung into one of those gold-plated mythical spaces a hundred feet from the door of the big box store. The woman hit the ground nearly running, beeping her vehicle locked over her shoulder.

All because of a Christmas sale.

An innocent mistake left me negotiating a big-box parking lot on the day some never-to-be-repeated sale was going on. I was caught in a slow-moving traffic jam of sorts, and that gave me plenty of time to think.

I find it amusing and sad that a celebration of God’s greatest gift has been turned into an excuse to spend money, be greedy, and argue about whether or not Jesus Christ has any place in the holiday which is named for Him.

In the midst of the politically correct arguments about Christmas, I always find it confusing that few if any of the naysayers volunteer to forego Christmas bonuses or the time off from work. Put your money where your mouth is, I say.

I am sure some of those bonuses were being spent by the folks I saw the other day, frantically fighting for the most fashionable foofaraw. I am sure at least some, if not most of them, at least pay lip service to the true meaning of Christmas, since most of us still live close enough to mommas and grandmas who will not hesitate to realign even an adult child’s priorities.

Does this mean that, as a Christian, I disagree with giving earthly gifts at Christmas? I don’t think so – but at the same time, I also remember nothing under a tree can ever outshine the gift of salvation through Christ’s birth.

As I dodged across the lot to the door of that retailer the other day (on a decidedly non-Christmas errand) I had to watch some of the faces.

Most were a little pinched, and some were downright grumpy. Whilst I am famous for my scowl, I saw at least one very attractive young mother who could have taught me a thing or two about scowling as she was evaluating which Christmas ornaments were worthy of her overflowing buggy.

The men I saw were either disgusted or looked hapless, blindly following their wives, past the point of worrying about how they would pay for the mounds of purchases, simply wanting to survive the day.

The mindless maddened mobs saddened me, I’ll admit, but along the way, I’ve found plenty of things to reassure me that some folks can see past the sale signs.

For example, we had our Christmas program at church the other night. It wasn’t as big of a production as some churches (the only live animals were a possum in the parking lot and a deer on the front lawn) but every child who wanted a part had one, and they all did famously. There was a sincerity in the voices of those children that should give us all pause. I’m sure if you really listen, you’ll find the same in almost any church in southeastern North Carolina at this time of year.

Then there are the loads and loads of gifts that have slipped in and out of my truck in recent days. Those gifts aren’t destined for the tree at the Weaver household – they are the evidence of how people with enough want to help someone with very little.

My beloved wife inherited a Christmas gift program with her new job, and took to the task like a duck to water. She recruited everyone she could find to sponsor a family, even just one family, just for true necessities for Christmas. When her donors had taken care of the necessities, they began working on the wishes, too, so a lot of folks will have a brighter Christmas this year than they even began to dream about.

Last week I saw a pretty girl wearing reindeer antlers, on the corner of a busy intersection, waving a “Merry Christmas” sign at everyone who drove past. A young fellow a third my age opened a door for a lady twice my years – and waited, although it took the lady a little longer than she’d planned to get there. More and more people slowly, almost begrudgingly, are starting to smile. Adults are watching old Christmas programs with their children – and enjoying them.

In the fight for the perfect gift, we lose sight, very quickly, of the true, greatest gift we have every day. We forget the gift given by God to all mankind, a gift that was opened on the first Christmas Day, around 2,000 or so years ago.

If you need to get your priorities in order, then please take a Bible and turn to Luke Chapter 2. You’ll find a story of a wondrous gift in there, a gift that was covered in the poorest of wrappings, a gift of love everlasting.

I noted earlier in this column that I have grown tired of the hackneyed phrases that surround the Christmas season. One of those phrases, however, I hope is never hackneyed or cliched.

Take a moment, just a moment, and put Christ back in Christmas.

After all, it belongs to Him anyway.

– Weaver is a staff writer with The News Reporter. He may be reached via email at jeffweaver@newsreporter.biz, or via telephone at 642-4104, ext. 227.