A Candle in Our Window

Not everyone gets excited about Christmas in our hometown. When I stop to think about it, there are some who do not celebrate the event at all. It is no great surprise for us, as we stop and think about it, even in small-town rural Nova Scotia. The days are gone when it was a natural assumption for everyone to begin to get excited when the Eatons and Sears Christmas Wish Books came out in the local order offices. For those in the dark on that label of “Order Office”, here is the skinny on that one. Each town, and in some instances each community, had a local store where they could go to submit and then pick up orders for both of the named catalogue companies. Each fall children waited in great expectation for the Wish Books to be delivered so that their parents could go pick them up and the initial perusal could begin. Soon pages had their corners turned down and items were clearly marked for interest and pleas for their placement under the tree were made.

Now, all that information about Wish Books will date those who understand, and you may chuckle at the memories it elicits. How many hours were spent pouring over their pages; sometimes writing notes, or letters, to Santa explaining how and where he could find the items being wished for, along with an assurance that we had been good all year? In my early childhood (the 1950’s) we looked forward to Santa being on the early evening CBC programming, and listening to his little speech, followed by his wonderful laugh, as he wished every boy and girl a good night! Even then I began to realize that not every boy and girl got their wish. The harsh realities of life meant that many (far more than I realized at that time) had no real Christmas at all. It had little to do with culture or tradition… it was more about poverty, loss and so many things beyond life’s control. We sometimes overlook those truths. We hide them from our mind's eye, hoping that things will be the same for everybody. We merely want our personal and family situation to find a brighter, more meaningful measure of peace, joy and fulfilment, above all the stresses of preparation and hype surrounding the Christmas Season.
In this generation, diversity of culture along with a heightened respect for the traditions/beliefs of others has softened the language of the Season and it is sometimes difficult to know when to wish someone a Merry Christmas. We find ourselves hesitant, not wanting to offend their beliefs, tending to be embarrassed by our inability to proclaim the joy for the season. I believe in diversity, but still defend my right to celebrate what I believe, as long as in doing so it does not clearly offend someone personally… within reason. True diversity is found not in self-right alone, but in common deference for difference. Our joy is made complete when we love one another with openness and presence rather than indifference and aloofness.

Though commercialism has reigned in much of the traditional true meaning of Christmas, there still survive those elements of the season that remain. They are the “Hidden Meanings” that have become mere decorative rudiments that touch the heart of familiarity, more than that being tradition. Someone was reminiscing to me a few weeks back that it was becoming harder for them to “get it all out and in place” each year. Yet Christmas seemed to be missing something for them without those familiar ornaments, lights and special decorations. Our home is not a strict reflection of conformist traditionalism. Ok… who knows what that means? More to the point… who cares? Well, basically our home follows more the true meaning of Christmas and not the commercial enterprise that it has seemingly grown to be, but varies to a larger extent from the “old look of traditionalism” of our grandparents. We buy and exchange gifts, but we also make gifts; something that I enjoy as often as I can. With a gaggle of grandchildren and all the wishes that may find their way to our hearts, there are some things that can be realized and some that cannot, but nevertheless, Christmas is about the “Reason for the Season” in our “Faith Walk” not just about gifts being exchanged. Faith is not just a belief; is it a life strategy that finds it meaning in, caring, sharing and presence, which means much more than a “one-off” presentation of generosity… it is a lifestyle of meaningful presence in the lives of others.  Ringing in my ears is that jolly Santa shouting forth, “… and let’s make every day just as happy as Christmas Day!”

So I digress… I am known to do that… reading this “Stuff” takes patience. We have a tree. It doesn’t look like my grandparent's tree. First, it is not been plucked from the forest… it is stored in a box from Christmas to Christmas. Second, it does not have tinsel or garland, popcorn and cranberry strings adorning its branches. Third, you may have to look very hard to see glistening balls or icicles… they will only appear in your imagination. So… you ask… what “does” your tree have for ornamental presentation? It is artificial, so there is no odour of freshly cut fir present… rather bland eh! In our mind's eye, it is not the “presentation” as much as it is the “representation”. It is a tree… OK … artificial yes… but there’s still meaning for sure! Without debating the mixed histories of “the tree”; its presence in our home reminds us of the central place of memory, along with the joy of having a focal point for the Season. Our tree has lights of various colours, poinsettias, a few meaningful ornaments that our children or grandchildren have made and here’s the kicker… it has bears. Yes… lots of bears.

My wife loves bears. Our grandchildren have collected bears for Grandma, and they get added to the tree each year. Atop its branches, sits a beautiful bear angel. I did mention that we are not “strictly a conventional Christmas tree” family! I am asked each year for my opinion about a proper time to put  up said tree. I guess that most in our region begin to decorate for Christmas in either late November of early December. We are home in early December, so it seems to be appropriate to have it in place to enjoy before Christmas Day… so, up it goes around the first week in the month. I enjoy a front row seat that allows me a clear view of its presence in our home every day.  For me, not all memories are joyous, so a fun tree filled with “our memories”, representing both the family and its connection with our faith, has deep meaning for me.

We also, like many homes in our area, have candles in the windows. There is just something that draws my heart in when I see candles adorning the windows of homes during Christmas. Wonderful displays of the Christmas presentations are judged, viewed and held in awe, as we tour the communities to see all the decorated homes, but still, the practice of candles in the window, hold for me a special place in my heart. The tradition stems from a very practical application of adding a light to the window, to guide a missing one home. Somebody once said, “Yeah, the old man is out getting drunk and his wife wants him to come to the right house!” Well, maybe so, but the point was that she wanted him both home and safe with her again. Do we really take in the poignancy of the meaning of some of what we do? Not everything is just about laughter and smiling faces.

On the water, fishermen once depended on the lighthouses along the shore to not only guide them but to keep them from harm’s way. The simplest of accepted practice becomes mundane in recognition, just by virtue of its design. Do we question the headlights on our cars or the need of a flashlight in our homes or automobiles for emergency use? How about those bright street lights at intersections along the highways. Common practice makes these items almost unseen, not by any ineffectiveness, but merely due to their collective presence in our lives. Without those lights, our lives would be much different.

Then there is the angel or the star placed on your treetop at Christmas; if in fact, you do celebrate Christmas in your home and life. Like the light in the window, guiding the missing person home or welcoming the guest in, the treetop star has a purpose as well. It is a reminder of the “Star of the East”, that once guided the Wisemen to Bethlehem town, where the Baby Jesus lay. The angel atop our tree still reminds us that the announcement of the Christ Child’s birth came to mere common folk (the shepherds on the hillside), not just to kings and governors. How you perceive either the treetop star/angel or the lights in the windows, may make a tremendous difference in what Christmas becomes for you.

As you read today, I pray that you might find a deeper meaning for your celebration this Christmas. We tend to put so much effort into the preparation, that our energy is expended in the work needed to carry off a day, that literally just flies by. For many, it is followed by a horrible anticlimactically decent into exhaustion and for some even depression.  Take time to stop amidst the cookies, cakes, treat making, gift wrappings and decorating, and remember … God’s gift was a child, born in a manger… no frills or banners there… just a star, some shepherds, along with a variety of animals…  a truly a humble event. Let’s not make Christmas more than it needs to be, but more a time of family, friends, and the celebration of an event in time given to us. May the light, perhaps found in your window extend welcome to others this Christmas! May God’s richest blessings flow into your lives as you celebrate the birth of Christ this year!