The Irrational Season

"Madeleine L'Engle acknowledges it's the irrational season, which is pretty close to 'ridiculous' when you think about it. Considering what God could be thinking, though, I'm happy to consider that there might be some ridiculous, irrational, hopeful things left to be said about us humans. Because the truth is, I want to believe in the possibilities of joy. I want to believe, even in the dark and dread of this particular winter, that joy is abundantly accessible, and not only if I find the right places to dig for it, but that we are actually created to be it. That joy is our primary identity." Kayla McClurg

I,  unfortunately, have spent a lot of time debunking Christmas.  It is in my nature to, instead of accepting that the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts, to take things apart to see what makes them tick. To take them apart until they no longer tick. The first time my wife and I went to Disney World, we went with a couple who had been there many times.  Disney World was literally The Magic Kingdom for both of them.  I enjoyed it all too.  But while we were watching The Main Street Electrical Parade, I noticed something that intrigued me. From the spot we were standing I realized that the music that was approaching us was in perfect sync with the music playing in front of us. That music traveling farther should have been arriving later. But it wasn't. It arrived simultaneously with the music in front of me. Furthermore, all of the music that processed down the street was in perfect synchronization as well. I decided that there was some sort of delay built in that no matter where you stood all of the music was synchronized.  I have read since then that I was absolutely right. The phenomenon I noticed was electronically built into the music generator so that the listener heard that incredible Moog music all at the same time.   It was perfectly fine that I noticed that that night. It's not fine that I talked about it later.  Our friends got rather upset with me that I tried to take the magic out of the kingdom. I didn't understand that at the time, but I do now. That sound engineering was part of the magic of the kingdom for me, but it certainly wasn't for them.

Christmas is  indeed "the irrational season."  Now instead of debunking it, I believe all of it. The star, the shepherds, the wise men, the stable in Bethlehem, the barn animals, the Christ Child in a  manger of hay,  Mary and Joseph adoring their newborn son. I also believe that reindeer fly.  That a jolly man in a red suit delivers gifts to children all over the world and that he does it all in one incredible night. And that all those gifts were made by elves at the North Pole and they all fit on one flying sleigh. It doesn't have to make any sense.  Christmas,  more than any other time of the year, is the magic kingdom. "It's the irrational season".

Christmas, much more than the things we do, is a way of being.  If we want to truly enjoy this Christmas season, we need to take time now, before it all gets so crazy, to be still and know. To know "that joy is abundantly accessible."  "Joy is our primary identity" doesn't mean that we need to search and find "the joy of Christmas."  It means that we need to discover "the joy of Christmas" inside. It's been there all along. Watch a baby on Christmas morning. While the older children are moving from gift to gift trying to pick their favorite, the baby has been content to play, not with his toys, but  with the same Christmas bow for hours. Or if a bow is not available, he is absolutely fascinated with a  piece of fuzz he finds on the floor. That wonderment is not in  the bow or the fuzz but in the baby. And it's still inside of us.

So when we are distracted and stressed, when we are overwhelmed with the demands of the season, let's stop and say, "This is not Christmas" When we are fighting  traffic and wishing we were somewhere else, let's think "This is not joy.Joy is here. And now". And recognize that all those people around us have important places to be as well. They are not in our way, we are in their way. Then find some "ridiculous, irrational and hopeful thing" to say about them.

"L'Engle said, "I want to believe in the possibilities of joy."  If current circumstances and the dread of anticipated responsibilities make joy seem inaccessible, then try at least to believe "in the possibilities of joy."  Let "the possibilities of joy" sustain you until joy finds a way. If a star can hang over a manger and if reindeer can fly, regardless or your circumstances, there is hope for a deeply rich and meaningful Christmas season. Don't find joy; be joy.