I'm Dreaming Of That Christmas Feeling

I was raised in a great little industrial town called West Allis, just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the States. The neighborhood I grew up in celebrated by wrapping all the ash and maple trees with white Mylar plastic with red ribbons, like giant candy canes. The called it Candy Cane Lane. They collected monies for charities from all the cars that drove by. They still do this every year, cars back up to the highway to visit that neighborhood.

What do you get besides the witness of electric lights in a varying array of colors and some teenagers dressed as elves and snowmen and one rosy cheeked Santa? You get that warm feeling, the inviting and forgiving feeling of Christmas.

There's been a veritable crusade from some Evangelicals and others over "keeping Christ in Christmas" but I don't know so much that the Prophet from Nazareth would care so much whether or not we entrust his namesake as much as he'd care that we honor the Spirit of forgiveness and renewal that enlivens this cold time of year.

Over the years I've spent less time entering the church house, though in my own eyes I've grown closer to the real church. This has been the trend with my five younger brothers and sisters as well. I recall more than once, my Father lamenting, "It just doesn't seem like Christmas."

I can't say if it's because so many of his children don't attend midnight mass. Or go hog wild with material gifts and presents. All I know is, I still feel it. The forgiveness, the Spirit of Christmas.

Now we're a few weeks from the Eve. Things are tight this year, money is being stretched thin. We're waiting until the week before Christmas to get our evergreen tree. My daughter confided in me a few days ago, "It just doesn't feel like Christmas."

We have done our best to manage. We live in a country of plenty, we get by OK. Things could be better with new clothes and tropical vacations in sight. Mostly though, I welcome this eclipse, this turning event manifested with the real Spirit, the Prophet, the Nazarene that welcomes both sides the feminine and the masculine and all the flavors of humankind. I feel it. I sense the spirit of Christmas and I do my best to share it with my family.

I pray for all the life on our planet and that we may enjoy peace during this time. All creeds, all races, all religions, to lay down their weapons and embrace the children and charity in all of us that bestow peace upon our souls.