I waited until after Christmas to ask you this because I didn’t want to be a downer. And, honestly, I don’t want to be one now, but I’m about to tell you something that might sound a little humbuggy.
I don’t have Christmas spirit. Well, I don’t know if I do or not. I don’t even know what it really is. That’s why I’m asking.
Do you have it? Can you define it?
I like Christmas songs. I like decorating. I like Christmas movies. And gifts are lovely. And with Little Sir, there’s lots of fun to be had. But I wouldn’t say any of these move my spirit.
In terms of spirit, I get Christmas is special. It’s a crucial element in my faith’s very existence. God with us. But I don’t know that the power of the Christmas Story resonates MORE for me at Christmas time.
Conversely, I do feel moved by New Year’s Day. I love the idea of renewal and clean slates and eagerly look forward to it.
So, that’s me. Help me out. Do tell: What is it? How do you get it?
I’ve written a blog (not posted yet) that has a paragraph devoted to the word “spirit.” You might find an encouraging throught here.
In the December issue of Southwest Airlines magazine, editor Jay Heinrichs riffed on the multiple meaning of the word “spirit.” He wondered how a word derived from the Latin spiritus, meaning “breath,” could be used to describe at once alcoholic beverages, moods, team character, the third person of the Trinity, and more. In a delightful few paragraphs he distilled the meaning down to its essence and raised the suggestion that we affirm life in small moments outside the cocktail hour or off the football field. Read the article here. https://issuu.com/southwestmag/docs/december2017
I struggled with it this year too. Christmas (well, the end of Christmas day) seemed more like something to look forward to as a time when all the to-do list items would be either accomplished or irrelevant. Being sick the last few days before didn’t help. But when I do feel it, it’s because of the services of Advent, which gradually build toward Christmas with scriptures and hymns that remind us of the full significance of Christ’s birth. It’s so much more than the baby in the manger—it’s the culmination of centuries of prophecy and preparation; it’s the incredible condescension of God becoming man so that man might become Godlike. I guess I would say the essence of the Christmas spirit is gratitude and joy for this greatest of all gifts.