Tonight was the Christmas Eve Service at our church. It was a lovely, meaningful service. Just the right length. Just the right balance between recitatives and Christmas songs. Young people taking part in the service.
On the way home I was thinking about the controversy about being politically correct and saying Happy Holiday instead of Merry Christmas. I think it is unfortunate that so many people get upset about this. People from both points of view. The big concern seems to be that people feel if they can't say "Merry Christmas" that Christ is being taken out of Christmas. I think people with this point of view are very wrong. We can keep Christ in Christmas and still say Happy Holiday. Keeping Christ in Christmas involves more than just the word "Christ." Keeping Christ in Christmas means living lives following the teachings of Jesus. Keeping Christ in Christmas should be a way of life - using our resources, talents, abilities, and time to make life better for those less fortunate. As we left the Christmas Eve Service we each carried a lighted candle that signified that we were to take the light of Christ into the world. Showing others that we keep Christ in our lives by what we do and say is how we should keep Christ in Christmas. I often wonder about those who get so upset about people using the term Happy Holiday. Do they go to church on a regular basis? Do they keep Christ in their lives throughout the year? I'm sure some do, but I'm also sure that many do not. Last Sunday the Pastor said that there was a family in our community that needed help with Christmas. We spontaneously took up a special offering and raised a considerable sum for this family. This, to me, is how we keep "Christ in Christmas."
Look at the column to the right. After my profile, there is a link to a blog entitled "The Homeless Guy." Click on it. His entry for December 23 is very interesting.