Posted by Helen on: 12.11.2008 /
Last week I posted about the Christmas survey my ex-church has set up. They’re asking, “What does Christmas mean to you?” My answer, which I sent to the local newspaper, is below.
“What does Christmas mean to you?” A large banner across the front of Calvary Memorial Church asked me that question as I drove along Lake Street recently. (The banner also invited me to answer it at www.christmassurvey.com)
I loved Christmas as a child. At that time it meant presents, decorations, special food and time with extended family. All of these were exciting (especially the presents). At school I learned about baby Jesus and Christmas carols. My family didn’t go to church at Christmas since we weren’t Christian.
When I became a Christian as a young adult, Christmas took on a whole new level of meaning for me. Just as the news is much more significant to you when you know the person in it, Christmas meant much more to me after I (believed) I had a personal relationship with Jesus. Christmas was now about honoring Jesus’ birth. Church had become part of my life and no matter where we were at Christmas, if I could I would slip out for an hour to attend a Christmas service. There I could be with other people who understood Christmas as I did and celebrate it with them.
After my children were born, I wanted Christmas to be as special for them as it was for me growing up. Their excitement over it gave it added meaning for me. It was fun creating our own family Christmas traditions. I enjoyed coming up with surprise presents that would delight my children. I’ve been pleased that we’ve often been able to have extended family with us at Christmas, similar to my childhood Christmases.
I wanted Christmas to be about Jesus for my children, so we’d read the story of Jesus’ birth together. I think it was still mostly about presents. However, I’ve been glad to see as they’ve gotten older that it’s become about the presents they give as well as the ones they receive.
In recent years, my beliefs about Jesus have changed. Christmas continues to mean special family time to me. But I no longer attend a Christmas service unless someone asks me to go with them.
For me the Christmas story is full of symbolic meaning, whether it’s true or not. One of my favorite parts about the story is that God, in the form of Jesus, connected with us by entering our world and walking in our shoes. If we take time to connect with other people that way at Christmas, maybe we can help make their Christmases more meaningful.
Comment by: Craig
1Well said. Thanks for sharing with us! Any reaction from the church/newspaper?
Comment by: Helen
2Thanks Craig. The newspaper (which is weekly) has invited other people to write in and share what the holidays mean to them. I hope some will and those will be in the next two issues.
The new pastor of my ex-church (who I had coffee with recently) emailed me and said thanks for mentioning the survey last week. He also said he read what I wrote in the newspaper and thanks for including the survey URL in it. He also said his experience was like my first two paragraphs (he loved Christmas as a child and it took on a whole new level of meaning later when he became a Christian).
He said the church has received a number of responses from varying perspectives through the survey site. He didn’t get any more specific than that so I don’t know what the responses are.
He also said he likes the concepts in Doable Evangelism – I sent him the link to the site – and he’s going to think about how he could use those in the church.
Comment by: Bob
3Helen I like the way you looked at the practical application of the Christmas story as a metaphor for reaching out to people. If we spent more time doing this, as God did for us, we could make such a big difference. Wasn’t Jesus about reconciliation and connection with God? Perhaps connecting to each other is the best we can continue that process.
Comment by: Seren
4Thought you might enjoy this poem by Michael Leunig
I see a twinkle in your eye, so this shall be my Christmas star and I will travel to your heart: the manager where the real things are.
And I will find a mother there who holds you gently to her breast, a father to protect your peace, and by these things you shall be blessed.
And you will always be reborn and I will always see the star and make the journey to your heart: the manager where the real things are.
Comment by: Jason Horton
5You might be onto something there with the nativity as a symbol. The bible is so much an ongoing lesson through parable and symbolism that there is no reason not to take inspiration from the story of Christ’s birth too. Just because the independent historic record throws up questions about authenticity doesn’t mean that we can’t still appreciate it.
Comment by: Anisha
6After reading “Jim & Casper Go To Church,” I had to read your blog, Helen. I definitely think that the purpose of Christmas is for us to learn how to live like others, to love them as we love ourselves. And this love doesn’t mean you even have to like them – it means you understand them and hope for the best for them.
Comment by: Helen
7Thanks for your comment, Anisha.
I’ve found it works best for me to look for something specific I like about other people in order to help me want to connect with them and care about them. I don’t need to like everything about them, but I can generally find at least one thing if I make an effort. Without making that effort I don’t really feel that me claiming to love them has the meaning it could have.
When the Bible says Jesus had compassion on people I interpret that as meaning he felt some connection – that there was something he liked about them. (As well as meaning he felt sorry for them)