Deep into December

Well, I'm committed to December. As the last six years have shown, December is the hardest month of all both physically and spiritually. Physically because the days get shorter and the dark creeps in early. Finals lurk. The last two weeks are always too busy. Snow pretends to fall, but usually it's a combo of rain and dirt.

Spiritually because our world is quickly losing the real purpose of Christmas, spiritual meaning of gifts is lost to checking names off of a Christmas present list, more time is spent shopping than spending it with family and Christ is nowhere to be found. TV commercials make it worse.

When I was living in Russia during Christmas time, I was always confused by the way that they celebrate Christmas and New Years. You put up the tree for New Years. Santa (Grandfather Frost) comes on New Years. Presents are given on New Years. Family got together on New Years. I thought they had it all screwed up. What I didn't realize is maybe they have it right. They went to Church on Christmas.

I'm not saying that we have to give up our traditions to celebrate Christmas. I think that our traditions should enhance the spiritualness of truly celebrating Rozhdestvo (The Birth).

I'm hoping that we all can take these next few weeks and really celebrate Christmas the way it should be.

And here's an early rendition of St. Nick for fun: