Running Around in Circles, Going Nowhere

Everyday there are signs that the economy is getting a little bit worse. Many of us are panicking this holiday season as we and our close family and friends are getting laid off while companies downsize, go out of business or furlough us. President Obama was definitely right when he said a few months ago that things "may get worse before they get better." The questions are, how much worse and how long will it last?

As the Christmas season approaches, it's interesting to hear some of the conversations many parents are having as they ponder how they will come up with money to spend on their children for Christmas. This is going to be a difficult holiday season for many. At the same time, many jobs are dependent on how much shopping we all do for the holidays. For the most part, even when the economy is good, many stores barely survive until the holiday season and Back-to-School put them over the top. This is partially why Christmas is hyped up and we are programmed to believe that we have to buy this or that for it to be a successful holiday. In order to make this happen, Christmas is aimed at EVERYONE, even nonbelievers.

So Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, sing Jingle Bells as you dream of a White Christmas. Also, build a Frosty the Snowman, and teach your kids that Santa Claus Is Coming to Town with Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and we'll all be walking in the Winter Wonderland. Possibly, all of these songs, will get you into the Christmas spirit? Meanwhile, we can all put Christmas trees up in our homes with Santa Claus or just a ribbon on top instead of a star, compete with our neighbors in decorating the house and the yard with lights and ornaments, hang wreaths on our doors, kiss under the mistletoe, hang stockings over the fireplace, drink eggnog, go to office Christmas parties where we dance and sing the blues.

But make sure we don't forget to buy our kids the hottest new toys and electronics as well as designer clothes and put ourselves a little further in debt; doing it because God forbid they wake up on Christmas morning with little of nothing. What would they think of us? What would their friends think of them and us? How embarrassing would that be for Santa Claus to not come to the ghetto. Or the suburbs?

You notice anything missing?

In case you didn't, I'll tell you. It's the same thing that's been missing from our school system for the last 25-30 years, the same thing that many of our children miss every Sunday morning as they extend Saturday to another day. The same thing missing from the phrase, "Merry X-Mas." Christ. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our Messiah - The one responsible for splitting time. You know, B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (After Death). So why is it some 2009 years after Christ's death, do we remember His birthday only to celebrate an old man from the North Pole that never existed? What is the purpose of a Christmas tree, especially one without a star on top? Why is it that even though many of us know the reasons behind the holiday season, we join the masses in celebrating everything but Jesus? Why do we allow our children to come up and know very little about the birth of Christ? Why are many of us confused but refuse to go to church to find answers? Why don't the ones who know the answers explain it to ones who don't know. Is it because we don't want to offend? Does society tell us that religion is the one thing we are not free to discuss in the public unless it's in church?

You ever wonder why our schools have gotten so much worse over the last 25-30 years. Every day we hear about more shootings, killings, rapes and even gang rapes. Why are lawmakers bending over backwards for gay rights while making sure we take God out of schools? Some are even trying to take, "One Nation Under God," out of the Pledge? You ever feel like your chasing your tail? Ever feel like your paycheck is just enough to pay your bills and if you ever miss a week's pay, you may be so far in the hole it will be hard to get out?

The holiday season only reminds me partially why we're in this predicament, running around in circles, going nowhere. Not only is Christ missing from our everyday lives, but He is missing from the one place He should be...Christmas. Well, Have yourself a Merry Christmas. Pardon me, Merry X-Mas! Excuse me, I think the more politically correct way to say it is Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays!

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