A Meaningful Christmas

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

-- Matthew 18:1-5

I think we each need to define what Christmas means to us, personally.  For me, it took all of sixty years.  My personal "definition" would constantly change with life events, as a child, a pre-teenager, a young adult, a military member, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a retiree.  It changed with my views on Christianity, my relationship with my God, and my studies of various other spiritual and religious philosophies.  It changed as I saw life in other countries and witnessed folks who gave thanks for having so very little as they strived to rise above their situation and not just accept their station in life.  It became, for me, not so much thanks for what we had but, rather, thanks for that we had anything at all.  It was the thanks for the smallest gift we each take for granted, daily; the gift of life, and the gift of waking up each and every morning with another chance to excel in that life.

I was reminded of this as I looked in the kitchen pantry to see what I needed to buy for the Thanksgiving feast.  As a retiree, I live paycheck to paycheck and yet, the pantry was full.  I don't require much to live on so I can afford to buy what I need.  I don't want for much. I don't fill my life with material crap, which is why I'll own an old-style flip-phone until they peel it from my dead fingers.  I try to stay busy, and life is full.  Life for me is about friends, family, the chaplaincy, and my writing and woodworking.  I guess one could say I'm a happy camper, and they'd be right.

Christmas has become, for me, a reminder of our innocence, a reminder which comes to some of us through the giving of a small gift, a humble token of appreciation, and the smile we get, or give, in return.  It is about our humility, our love and, at the very least, our tolerance for each other, our giving with no thought of recompense.  The Christmas season is a "once a year reminder" that this is what we're supposed to practice all year long, how we're supposed to treat each other every day of our lives.  We all carry with us the innocence of childhood which becomes blurred with all of the elephant shit we insist on piling upon it during our lives.  We forget about innocence and humility.  We forget about respect.  We learn about sex, forget how to love, and then we forget how to be truly kind,  and then, when we're old, we forget about sex and really become a pill we if we haven't learned how to love.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

-- Mark 10:13-16

We forget that how we act is an immediate message for our children as to how they should approach the world and others.  It burdens them with confusion if our only answer is "do as I say, not as I do" as we try to teach them how to behave.  What scripture says, in Proverbs 17:6, is pretty logical and obvious:  Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.  Well, can only hope.

If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.

--Tao Te Ching (Chapter 66)

This Christmas I will take the time to think of who will inherit what we all leave here in the tumultuous wake of our passing.  We've mucked up God's paradise pretty good.  The meek are ill-prepared to take on the challenge.  We interpret scripture poorly.  Mathew 5:5 should read, "God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth."  Humility will demand of us that we listen to each other, consider other viewpoints, respect, tolerate, and learn to admit we might be wrong.  We need to go back to the basics of learning:  Learn, plan, perform, test, evaluate, and repeat if necessary.  We can no longer simply accept the status quo or "the way it has always been done" as good enough to ensure our survival.

Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.

--Tao Te Ching (Chapter 8)

Christmas for me has become like every other day.  I wake up to the new morning and thank God for another glorious day in paradise and another chance to try and excel in life.  What life is, it simply is, until it becomes something else and, when it becomes something else, it becomes, once again, what it is.  In studying the Tao, the Way, those philosophies of Lao Tsu, I have come to realize the three treasures which he cherished: compassion, moderation, and not claiming to be first in the world.  In a word, to be humble.  

I will wake up on Christmas morning and thank God for another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in humility.  In doing so life will change from what it is into what it is and, tomorrow morning, each and every morning, it will be Christmas all over again.  Lucky me!

What does Chrismas mean to you?

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.