December doldrums

This time of year makes me pensive. I am usually pretty grumpy, too. It all generates from this "holiday" concept. The idea that suddenly, after Halloween (HALLOWEEN!), we start plotting a course for Thanksgiving so that the day after (and now the night of), we can spend a bunch of money we don't have on things we don't need. Then, inconceivably, it gets worse!.....THE MUSIC!!!! It gets really frustrating about the fiftieth time I hear "white Christmas" over a store speaker system.

"Jingle bells roasting over an open fire while we build a snowman in the meadow and the Grinch steals our presents".....It all just overwhelms the soul. And then I hit defcon 4 when I see the Christmas movies and commercialization start to ramp up. Really? walk past a movie theatre and look at the "Coming Attractions" posters and look at what kind of garbage is passed off as "Christmasy"....and worse yet, what kind of filth is opening on Christmas Day.

The nukes finally explode on the ringing bells that incessently and methodically grate on my conscience while walking into a Wal Mart. Truly, inexplicably, the vast majority of people become hearty philanthropists by clanking in three quarters in the little red bucket. These same buckets now have to have locks on them because some sleezeball stole what little was offered by the public. Unreal.

Alas, there is a shimmering sparkle of redeeming quality in this time of year: the reason for the celebration. I know, Jesus was probably born in September or October. I know, I know, the whole saturnalia thing and the pagan tree worship deal and the idolatry of "saint nick". But in the end, I usually sit back, sip some cider or hot chocolate, and remember that the greatest gift of all time was born in a humble manger. And contemplate His glorious splendor.........while watching my neighbors plastic reindeer melt in a raging blaze started by their holiday light fixture falling over into their bushes.

"Tis the Season!