Deck The Halls

So Thanksgiving is over and now its off on the mad dash to Christmas. In years passed I've balked at the materialist, humanistic commercialism that has become Christmas. But this year I thought I would give in a little and try to enjoy the "season." However its not even December and for the first time ever I have either bought or planned almost every person on my list. Am I any less stressed now that I have a head start? NO! I'm already in full swing of something I usually save for those last couple of weeks before Christmas and I feel anxious about the outcome. To be honest I wish we could just ditch the holiday all together and start over. Lets just call it what it is "Retailmas" and start over. It seems the celebration of the advent of Christ has become overshadowed by our culture and the whole idea of gift giving. This Christmas I want to get past the gift giving, the "season" and find something more simple, more profound. Emanuel, God with us, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. What a glorious thing! The advent of Christ, the Hope of the world!