Spirit of Christmas

So as I'm doing my Christmas shopping this year, I was thinking and reflecting on what we have done to this Christmas holiday.

It seems that we, as a society, have managed to take the "Christ" out of Christmas.

Now bear with me here as I attempt to use my little right-wing brain to dissect this issue into some basic truths and coincidences that make me feel sick to my stomach.

So, as with most words over 6 letters in the english language can be broken down into multiple parts. Ths word Christmas (and yes I capitalize it, not because it is a "federally observed" holiday, but because it is based on the name CHRIST) can be broken in half, making "Christ", and "mas".

Now even if you are a godless heathen who may be lost to the glory of heaven forever (may God *capital again ;)* have mercy on your soul) you recognize the name Christ. That would leave us with "mas", which if you have even the most rudimentary knowledge of the spanish language, you would know to mean "more".

So, in my little right-wing brain, I have come to the following conclusion:

As a society, we are taking Christ out of Christmas, and worrying ourselves with "having MORE"!

Scary huh?

So since the civilized world, if you can in good conscience call us civilized anymore, began celebrating the Christmas holiday, we have managed to degenerate it into presentmas, commercialmas, "let'sseehowmuchmeaninglessshitIcanbuymas" and so on and so on ad nauseum...

C'mon people, do me a favor, if you are not celebrating Christmas for what it is, the celebration of the birth of the Son, the Saviour, the *gasp* CHRIST, then by all means, go out, buy your presents, sing your carols, eat your ham, but quit calling the pitiful sham of a holiday that you are celebrating Christmas.

Here is a little poem that was a part of my inspiration for today's rant.

Original author unknown, so I'll credit my beautiful wife with finding it, and hope that the original author is satisfied to know that his/her work has served to at least inspire others of a like mind.

Now prasie the Lord and pass the gravy!

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town,

Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores,

Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".

Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap,

As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.

When what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear?

'Cept an ad.. which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...

Buying things on credit...and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall,

Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things,

No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior...they had no time to stop,

Because they needed more time to "Shop til they dropped!"

On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!

On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's.

From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall,

They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter,

As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.

Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus...Light of the World.

Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!

Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight,

Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights.