A Christmas Reflection

First, I want to invite those of you in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area to join me this Saturday, December 15^th from 10:00 – noon at the Cedar Falls Community Center at 6^th  Local organizers are planning a spirited discussion of John Edwards’ mission and message, and Lynn and I are helping to lead it.  You can contact Lisa Eiklor at kentaddleman@earthlink.net for details. and Main streets.

Today, I want to reflect on Christmas.  And please know that while I speak as a Christian, I appreciate the religious and spiritual significance of this season for a wide range of faith traditions.

Originally a celebration of the birth of Jesus, the modern Christmas has far more to do with mega malls than manger stalls.  It’s as if the true Christmas has been stolen by a Wall Street grinch and contorted into a month-long orgy of consumption and materialism.  Each year we obediently, almost compulsively, parade off to the biggest, newest shopping mall.  Each year, the pilgrimage begins earlier than the year before.  This year, at 12:01 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, Jordan Creek Mall threw open its doors to an onslaught of all-night shoppers amidst unprecedented hype and glitter.

I understand that, for many struggling small-business owners, Christmas is a make-or-break opportunity to close the year in the black.  Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economic strength, and nearly every penny I spend – not just at Christmas, but throughout the year – is at a locally-owned business.  If we all try harder year round to shop on Main Street and at older malls in the hearts of our cities and towns, America and our economy will be better off for it.

Yet it is beyond me what our modern Christmas shopping frenzy has to do with the birth of Jesus.  In the Christmas story, three wise men came bearing gifts – not to their wives, children or friends but to a homeless babe, born out-of-wedlock, lying on a bed of straw.

And while the wise men were well-intentioned, their choice of gifts is puzzling.  Here’s the Holy Family.  Poor.  Homeless.  Hungry.  Soon to be immigrants in a foreign land.  Soon to be fugitives on the run from political persecution.  Their needs include housing, food and above all justice – not gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Though generous, the wise men seem a bit clueless, giving not to the true needs of this destitute family but from the excess of their own luxury. 

I don’t mean to suggest that the Christmas message has nothing to do with giving.  Indeed, the birth of Jesus is THE critical event through which God gave his Son to humankind.  Jesus, in turn, gave his own life for our redemption.  And during that life, he sets an example for us by constantly giving of himself.  But the important point is that he gave not to gratify people’s greed but to fulfill their need.

He gave sight to the blind.

He gave food to the hungry.

He gave comfort to those in mourning.

He preached release to the captives.

So, along with giving gifts to our family and friends, let’s give of ourselves to those in need – not just personally, but collectively.

We might volunteer at a homeless shelter . . . and work for an end to economic and social policies that exacerbate poverty.

We might visit seniors in a nursing home . . . and lobby for laws that pay direct-care workers livable wages and allow more seniors to stay with their families longer.

We might spend time not only with our own kids but with disadvantaged kids . . . and work to reform government spending priorities that grossly under-fund child welfare programs.

Human need on this planet is huge but finite.  If we – as individuals and through our local, state and national governments – put our minds and hearts to the task, we could, as John Edwards says, end poverty in our lifetime.  We have the natural resources.  We have the economic wherewithal.  We have the technical knowledge.  All we lack is the will.

Thank you, and may you enjoy a blessed, peaceful Christmas season.

Ed Fallon