Write to the Point
An incident occurred the other day that got me thinking about this time of year.
Walking into a grocery store last Saturday, I encountered a Salvation Army red kettle bell-ringer standing outside the entrance in the cold and snow, trying best to stay warm while doing his job. As I approached, he greeted us with a cheerful, if somewhat numb “Happy Holidays.”
My response was immediate. I replied, “Happy Holidays,” and added “to you as well.”
I’m not particular about holiday greetings, other than I appreciate it that someone is making the effort to wish me well, and generally reply in kind. It’s a moment of peace and joy that, unfortunately, seems to last but a few weeks each year.
But walking into the store, I wondered if his greeting was met in similar fashion by others. Remembering that some people claim there is a “War on Christmas” going on, I couldn’t help but wonder if his holiday greetings had been met, or would be met, but an individual feigning offense and indignantly replying that “It’s Christmas!”
I hope not. What good would such a statement do in perpetuating cheer? Alas, knowing people, I imagine that at some point, somebody responded to him in such a fashion, and if not this gentleman, than some other poor soul out there who was simply being friendly and extending greetings.
I haven’t heard much about this war lately, which doesn’t necessarily mean that people don’t feel that way and it isn’t the topic of some media organizations. It just means I haven’t heard much.
Perhaps it means it’s not as big an issue as it has been in the past. That would be progress, in my view. We spend so much time the rest of the year finding ways to insult and denigrate others that a 4-5 week ceasefire is welcome.
That also doesn’t mean that proclaiming this as the “Christmas Season” isn’t inappropriate. Christians lay claim to this time of year as part of the foundation of our beliefs, but it’s also true that historically, other religions have acknowledged the importance of this season as a time of renewal, rebirth, of the beginning of coming out of darkness into light.
As Christians, we look at this season as the season of Advent, ostensibly a sort of “countdown” to the big day of Christmas, but in reality something much more. Each week is signified, by those who follow the practice, by the lighting of one of four candles successively.
The candles have meaning: the first standing for hope, the second peace, the third joy and the fourth love. On Christmas, all four are lit along with a center, white candle representing the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
If ever there was a time and need for a focus on all four Advent themes, it’s right now. We have been through trying times, and we can only look forward to more.
One way to work towards hope, joy, peace and love I think is to find some sense of humility in our daily lives. Being humble means realizing that we don’t know everything, haven’t experienced everything and that we don’t need to try to cast ourselves otherwise.
By that I mean, even if we feel offended by someone’s tweet, Facebook post, letter to the editor or indignant verbal response, the best course of action might be to not respond in kind. Ask ourselves, does a response make things better, or is it simply repaying evil for evil?
In this case, a response might be no response at all. Or if we feel the need, a simple smile — a happy emoji if online — and wishing the other person well.
It is not easy to do, but returning a “Happy Holidays” with a smile and a greeting can be a start towards making a better world, of extending the “Christmas spirit” beyond December. At the very least, we’ve made one person happy.
Peace.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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