This sprouted from where I'm not sure, as most of my entries do, so it's a bit sporadic. I'm not sure if it's a little more bold than usual, because I'm used to writing about 'safer' topics. Oh well, I won't keep another post in 'drafting' when I haven't posted something new in about three months. :)
Christmas is truly amazing. But not for the reasons most commonly believed.
I would not have been able to fathom that the newly discovered lifestyle I have begun to live would cause me such sadness and pity and dejection, along with a fervent desire to understand completely for myself, so that I may explain to others, the reason for Christmas, during such a seemingly joyful holiday.
Wow, that was a mouthful. I hope my point came across coherently...
Since living this new lifestyle, I have begun to question aspects of my old life that I hadn't given much thought to before. Some of these have really led me to delve deep beneath the surface of issues, where I either was on the fence about something, or did not fully understand my responses weren't as they should be. I suppose one does not truly see the negative consequences of their actions, and consider changing them, until they prove unreliable or an outside perspective is brought in.
Living life without faith doesn't seem as difficult or horrible while you are experiencing it, but one with it will forever alter your life, and allow you peace and comfort beyond anything material. That may sound like it came straight from church, but it's true.
It is probably just a reiteration to most people that the season of Christmas has become over-commercializing, exterminating all but a small portion of what it sprang from, yet many still go along with it. And it saddens me greatly to see that I, along with millions of others have been a product of it. What is worse is that new generations are thriving in the same environment, oblivious to its deception, and hope for their future is slightly disheartening.
We seem to have developed (although, that word implies progress, and I would think of it more of as digress) into a society that has a skewed preconceived notion that Christmas is about giving the most expensive gift you can find, so that hopefully you will receive one with an equal, if not greater value, without much thought given to either present. Ok, so that may be a little harsh, but look at the story of Charlie Brown; all everyone could think about was getting into the Christmas spirit, but that only applied when it came to trivial aspects of it: the gifts, the decorations, the fame of the school play if it became a hit...the list goes on. Yet, the true spirit of Christmas is not revealed until the story of Christmas is told. Doesn't that say enough?
Society today seems to think by drowning our sorrow and misery in material possessions and manufactured love, we will somehow find happiness. That if parents shower their children with gifts that they will turn out just fine, or if they aren't able to afford presents, they have failed to bring joy to their little hearts.
I may be way off mark on some things, but hope the general gist is understood.
I was planning to blog about this a little while back and when I decided today was the day, I thought it was ironic that my Quote of the Day was this:
"Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops." - Kurt Vonnegut
I'll admit I'm not sure how this is supposed to be interpreted, but what it told me, I agreed with: that trinkets don't make up a lifestyle, but faith does. Hey, its even got its own holiday. =)
I love this clip and it made me wish that I wouldn't get anything for Christmas :)
