| Mrs. Murfreesboro: Turn to someone less fortunate to find Christmas meaning |
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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
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Posted: Sunday, December 14, 2008 7:53 am
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It seems I’m not the only person in a “Bah, Humbug” mood this year. I’ve heard several friends say they are having difficulty finding the energy to decorate or participate in festivities. I haven’t even picked up the first magazine or cookbook to entice me to indulge in my favorite passion – cooking – this season. Oh, my.
The season is still early, but I’ve already felt relief from the pressure of not going so overboard in decorating this year. I still have my crèche scene, a beautiful twinkling tree, amaryllis (fake) on my dining table and a garland over the living room mantle. But I’m not missing the other two trees I usually put up and think maybe someone may enjoy using those decorations I’ve taken to the Goodwill truck. In some ways it feels as if as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Last week “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer interviewed Rick Warren, author of best-selling book, “A Purpose Drive Life.” Warren has written a new book, “The Purpose for Christmas,” because of common complaints he receives from his parishioners during the holiday season.
Those complaints basically are: “Why do I feel so overwhelmed” and/or “Why am I so lonesome?” Warren says that society imposes pressures to decorate, pressure to send cards, pressure to buy gifts; pressure to celebrate ... and the weight of those pressures make the true meaning of Christmas become lost.
He acknowledged that for many, Christmas is often a very lonely time because we fail to accept the gift that Jesus gave us and we get sidetracked by the worldly parts of the holiday. Lauer said he felt that the book, “The Purpose of Christmas” should be placed beside every cash register before we’re allowed to charge something on credit card.
Warren reminded Lauer that the meaning of Christmas is so important that history itself is divided into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini – the year of the Lord). That was a very compelling statement to me. And, Warren said if you are a Christian you need to remember that Christ came for YOU and that is the true meaning of the season.
Lauer then questioned him with these thoughts: How do you celebrate if you are facing unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy ... how do you cope then?
Warren replied that we live in a broken planet, a planet that has been broken since Adam and Eve, and that nothing works here – no relationship, no economy – nothing on earth is perfect. That’s why we pray, “Thy will be done.”
He also said that most of the world would be happy to have our problems. Worried about a foreclosure? Many people in the world don’t even have huts to live in. Worried about money? Many people in the world would love to know what it’s like to be in debt.
I’ve noticed that you can’t enter a retail establishment without being faced with someone asking for money and a ringing bell. Years ago I stood in front of a grocery store collecting money for some charity – Children’s’ Hospital at Easter time, I think it was. And as I stood there, I was so impressed by those who dug into their purses and pockets to give what they could. I then realized: People don’t have to give a fortune for it to be appreciated. But if everyone who passed by gave one little bit, it would really make a lot of difference.
I think of that when I pass the Salvation Army people. I resolved to cash a larger denomination bill (any amount) and give part of that every time I pass a ringing bell.
Warren (who is going to be on the Today show again on Christmas Day) said that to find meaning in Christmas you must 1) accept the gift of Jesus and 2) turn to someone less fortunate than yourselves. He thinks that if you do these two things you will then find the happiness in Christmas that you have lost.
Sounds like a plan to me.
‘Til next week.
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