Why is Thad Glad?

I admit it. I am a Grinch.  I do not like Christmas and just like Dr. Seuss’s Grinch my heart grew three sizes this week.  While I did not steal any presents or tie antlers to a dog, music and the spirit of Christmas moved me.

I was not raised religiously and I am not religious now.  However,  I cannot help but believe in what I think are Christ’s important teachings: forgive others, love your neighbor, be your brother’s keeper, treat people as you would like to be treated, help the less fortunate.  While I try, I am definitely not always successful in following these simple lessons and recognize that I may not even have the right theological context.   While I am not devout, this is my way of saying that I am all for putting Christ in Christmas and more importantly in our hearts all year long.

So, what it my beef with Christmas?

The first Marxist, Karl, said that religion is the opiate of the masses.   While I am not a Marxist, I would update his statement to say that consumerism is the opiate of the masses.   Christmas has become a wild celebration of this powerful religion.   As advertising for Christmas sales starts in October, I envision people spending money they do have on presents that most do not need.  As a conservationist, I think of all the unnecessary waste generated by this tradition.  I certainly am not without sin in this regard.  I recall more than one Christmas Past, when, after a flurry of present opening, I dealt with piles of plastic and wrapping paper that encased children’s toys that would be enjoyed for a short period of time.  Many years later the presents, wrapping, and packaging are who knows where.   As a financial conservative, I am worried about our nation’s financial health. You do not have to look far to learn about the sad state of American finances.   At personal, state, and national levels we are consumed with debt.  Yet, every year at Christmas, people run up their credit cards to fund Christmas only to deal with the financial hang over later.   That’s my beef with Christmas.

Why did my heart grow?

This year my Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post organized a Christmas Party at the Captains James Lovell Federal Health Care Center’s Veterans Affairs facility in North Chicago, Illinois for the veterans who live there.  Our post does it every year.  The only difference is that I participated this year.   The VFW brought deserts and refreshments and the Grayslake Central and Grayslake North music programs provided entertainment in a room that reminded me of a slightly worn elementary school auditorium.  Picture the one you had in school that served as a lunch room with a small stage up front, except this one was hidden in a VA complex.

During set up everything was going according to plan except the VA residents did not show up on time. As a Marine veteran, I value punctuality in general and I was particularly conscious about the students’ schedules as they had finals the next day.   My stress level became elevated.   I walked around thanking people for their patience in dealing with the delayed start.  Nobody seemed to care.  Heck, the kids were not even concerned about their finals.   I thanked them for coming and they thanked me for being invited – it seemed genuine.  Some of them even thanked me for my service.  I always find that awkward because I think I gained more benefits from my service than I paid in sacrifice.  My standard response, ‘Thank you for paying for my Naval Academy education’ did not seem relevant for students that are younger than my own kids.   These were thoughtful and considerate people.  My mood was changing for the better.

Then the VA residents showed up and the Grayslake Central choir began singing classic Christmas songs.   The music was great and even a Grinch has to feel uplifted by Christmas music.  It was not just the songs, but the joy with which these young people were singing.   Oddly, I have memories of mandatory choir participation in grade school and for some reason it did not dawn on me that people actually like to sing.  They do. They were like Whos in Whoville just singing for the fun of it.

The Veterans seemed thankful to be there and my VFW comrades were happy to serve the residents, staff, and student ice cream, cookies, and soda (OK – pop).   Veterans rarely get tired of spending time with each other and the opportunity for interservice banter.  There was a nice group of people to banter with.  Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Next up was Grayslake North’s ‘Slam Funk’ group.  They rocked the house, performing a mix of R&B, Rock, and upbeat Christmas songs.  A few of the girls from Central who were not performing  started dancing in place, then more joined in – even boys.  Then a group continued at the front of the room.  Everybody was having fun and the veterans in attendance loved it.   All the shared joy and appreciation infected me.

After the performance was done, one of the resident veterans hopped on stage and led two roaring ‘Hip Hip Hurray’ cheers for the students and organizers.  That is when I knew that my heart had grown three sizes that day.

Then it was over.  Everybody pitched in, cleaned up, loaded busses and shared goodbyes and Happy Holidays.  While the event was over, my emotional state continued.  I left with a lasting feeling of neighborly love that I think Jesus would want us to share on his birthday.

I will close by saying, if you are stressing about Christmas trappings remember what Dr Seuss said through the Grinch:  ‘…how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’