I Was Waiting For Pictures, But. . .

I've been battling my digital camera over some pictures I took on my recent visit to Wilmington, DE. I was waiting on them to post, but Matt has forced my hand with this post. In case you don't want to read the whole thing I can summarize it with one quote. "I know what Christmas is truly about, but it seems that it means more than just that." What? You know I love you Matt, but I think that Alpine air has gone to your head. If Christmas is about anything other than "just that," I'm not interested. What else could Christmas possibly be about? Is it about gathering together with loved ones? We only do that about eight times a year. Is it about giving gifts to family and friends? Maybe! The giving of gifts signifies. . . never mind. What about Santa! Surely a fat man sneaking into my house at night and eating my cookies is a metaphor for. . . nothing. The Christmas tree! Now we have it! Here is the greater meaning of Christmas! Kidnapping a plant from its native habitat and adorning it with gaudy trinkets and flashing lights must mean that we are. . . bored? In the end Christmas is about one thing, Christ. I understand that we (humankind) have pile an unfathomable amount of crap on the day that seems to make it much less significant than it actually is. I think that this is because of one simple fact. The impact that the birth of Jesus had on the world was far too great and complex for any of us to fully understand. The part that we do understand has meaning enough, but we can't help but realize that we don't really get it. The result is that we pile on the crap. Granted, there are some who are so offended by the little that they do understand that they need to twist the meaning to fit their own world view. Apparently the "idea" of a holiday still appeals to them. Anyway, Matt, there is no "more" to Christmas beyond Christ, only "less." The day that the "less" becomes more important I will arbitrarily select another day to celebrate on.