Tis the Season

We are surrounded by beauty and wonder if only we are mindful to look

                Tis the season of want—what do you want for Christmas?  With all these great sales, I should stock up on stuff I want.  I really want a new….

                Something here is off.  The fact that it’s the season of giving means that for the recipient, it’s the season of getting, but I’ve already gotten—gotten in great abundance.   God graciously met all my needs and a bunch of needs I didn’t even know I had.

                So what is this season really about?  Well, the perfect place to start looking for meaning is with Thanksgiving—the official kick-off of the holidays.   I look around me--am I grateful for each and every one of my things?  To be honest, I am surrounded by stuff that I am not even aware of having.  It’s just there.  So one of my goals for the holiday season is instead of wanting more, I will try to be mindful of and enjoy what I already possess.

                Is the item beautiful?  Then I need to notice its beauty and not only that, but enjoy glimpses of amazing beauty in the natural world around me—the sun rising, snow on pine branches, golden leaves dancing on the breeze.

                Do I have an item because it’s functional?  Am I thankful for its use?  I wouldn’t need  cooking equipment if we lacked food to prepare.  I wouldn’t need a shovel if we didn’t have a home of our own.

                Perhaps I’ve kept an item because it was a gift or a souvenir.  When I see it, do I take time to think of the person who gave it to me or the wonderful memories that go with the event/vacation/ location where I got it?

                Apart from beauty, function, and memories, I could part with most things and the joy from what remains would leave me full.  I’d have no room for more wants, and that just covers my material things.  The richness of our lives is better measured by non-material things like friends and family, meaningful work, laughter, and love.

                So back to our question, what is this season really about?  Since it is truly meant to celebrate God’s gift of Jesus to us, perhaps we should honor Him as He requested—feed the poor, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and imprisoned, love one another.  There are many great things to give—a helping hand, a loving thought, a caring gesture—I want to get some of that and I hope to give away even more than I receive.