I Welcome Christmas

A letter to my family and friends and those who might know me a little.

We don’t have a Christmas tree. We have no extra lights or candles. There are no gifts or sent cards, tinsel, garland, poinsettias, wreaths, generationally revered ornaments, or decorated evergreen boughs with holly in our apartment. I have not made any sweet treats of decorated cookies, chocolate pudding with a bell, or even fudge that I would often make only at Christmas— a special recipe from a dear friend who passed many years ago. No stockings are hung waiting to be filled. No wanderings around a mall or scrolling online for that last minute gift. I am not sad or depressed about this decision. I am also no Scrooge or Grinch. I don’t anticipate or expect many people to understand— and I’m not asking anyone else to shift how they celebrate this time of the year. For me, this decision has actually been a long time coming. Will I make this choice every year going forward?— I do not know.

What I do know is this…

I love my family with every ounce of my being… each and every member of my family with my whole heart. Always! I love my friends in all parts around the world where we have shared fabulous experiences, great laughter, sorrows, and many special memories. I also long to be with each of you, all of you, family and friends… just not for the holiday of Christmas— in the way it is culturally recognized today.

Please don’t hate me. Please don’t be sad for me. Please don’t think I’m a lost cause in need of some salvation or I’ve gone off my rocker. I am alive and well, and I’m choosing to live authentically to myself.

I love the stillness that can be found when I eliminate the busyness that is equivalent to this season. I appreciate the deep connections that can be experienced as I stop and sit with the pain going on everyday across this world and on our doorsteps.

I welcome the day when all people will see, love into, care for, and have compassion toward one another — based simply on their humanity — not out of one’s deserving, or because of one’s choice of religion or lack of religion, place in society, nationality, gender, or the color of one’s skin.

I welcome the day when the messiness of the Incarnation is not whitewashed.

I welcome the day when we can see beyond our traditions of relentless busyness—even for a good cause— and of our consumeristic gift giving.

I welcome the day when the reality of the Nativity is truly told through the eyes of the oppressed and those not in power.

Often the word trappings is used to describe Christmas… “The Trappings of Christmas”, like it’s a badge or a book title, and yet, we continue to allow ourselves to be caged in consumerism and tradition—I wonder— just what are we missing? Or—what might we really be afraid of?

Yes, this is one of the many “places” in which I wrestle.

I’m providing a link here to Christmas in the Crosshairs from my Book Reflection section on my website from a couple of years ago.

Merry Christmas my loves!

Cat