What Can We Learn from Christmas Trees

Recently, I used an article from the Christianity Today website in a Sunday evening lesson.  The article was called "O Tannenbaum!  O Tannenbaum! a brief history of the Christmas Tree" by Edwin Woodruff Tait (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2006/004/2.11.html).

Tait starts off with a quote from Tertullian in the 2nd century.  Tertullian was reacting to Christians putting up laurel wreaths to honor the emporer.  The quote ends with the challenge, "If you have renounced temples, make not your own gate a temple."  Pretty direct. But relevant for us, in that there are so many things about this season that seem more like idolatry.  Shortly after, Tait tells of missionaries who went to the Germanic and Slavic peoples (who cut down trees and planted them in boxes inside) and "converted"  some of the cultural practices of the people.  He tells of a legend how Boniface, after cutting down a sacred oak dedicated to Thor, pointed to an evergreen nearby as a symbol of God's love and mercy.

From there, Tait traces the type of history with which we are more familiar.  And also some more of the controversy.  Which stirs some familiar and also frustrating things in our own minds.  Which ultimately expands in our own minds to the question, even, of Christmas itself -- and what we can, or should, do with it.

It's always difficult for me to think of the "Prince of Peace" being honored by a season of such greed, commercialism, drunkenness, etc.  We're barely through the first third of December, and I've already heard of one young woman's disgust at the behavior of her married male co-workers at the staff party. 

On the religious front, I am frustrated by those who assume that all of Christianity (and the life of a Christian) is somehow fulfilled in observing this season and Easter.  How is doing this duty any different from those who park on a pew most Sundays, but don't seem to take anything out onto the street?

As I read and reread the article, I thought about the different responses Tait described, and all the different responses I've seen, if not even experienced myself.   As I processed these ideas, some thoughts came to mind.  At the risk of being "long-fingered" (how can I say long-winded when I am not talking?) and without rehashing the whole lesson - here goes.

Possible responses to something like this.  I/we can:
1. Oppose it - fight it tooth and nail - but somehow, unless it is a very clear issue, we come off sounding to other people like grinches.  Sometimes, when something is really wrong, we have to have the courage to stand up against it. 
2. Tolerate it - which seems like the feelings from opposing it aren't any different, just that we are quiet about it.  Again, there are times that we may have to co-exist.
3. Ignore it - pretend it doesn't exist - which may seem a little silly, because denying something won't make it go away.
4. Accept and adopt it - just go with the flow - after all, what can just one person do? 
5. Reframe it - sort through and find that which is truly useable and good.

Reframing means that we have to understand what we are doing and why, and being able to explain our response to others.  It means not "jumping into bed" with those things that are misleading or untrue.  It means thinking about what our example says to others.  (For example, being grouchy and irritable about Christmas will look to many non-Christians like we hate Christ's birth.)  I've seen a church member or two, when a song-leader has chosen, in December, to lead a song with words rejoicing at Jesus' birth, who stood or sat there, grim faced, if not even looking angry.  Given that this is one time where we might especially have visitors, is this what we want them to see?  Is this our message?

So, for me, given that this is a season that talks about things like joy, love, and peace -- where biological and spiritual families come together to express and share love -- where strangers may even greet each other in a more friendly way -- it seems to me, that there is much that can be "reframed" about this season.  We may not know when Jesus was born, but we know and celebrate the He was.  His incarnation made Him just like us.  He understands.  He is not far away -- He is here, with us.  He is part of every day, every season of our lives.

Perhaps, the real challenge is not just reframing this season, but the rest of the year - of singing (and meaning) "Joy to the World" in July. Of carrying peace and love through the whole year -- of celebrating family sharing and love year round -- where every Sunday (and every day) is a special time of fellowship and togetherness.

OK - sermon over (kind of).  Given the good things of this season, it's a great time for family.  With our family scattered, literally, around the Western Hemisphere, we cannot be all together this year as we have some years in the past.  Yet, the beauty is, we are a family, wherever we all are.  And we are all joined by love and Christ.  And that's the gift that counts.

"Balmy" Winnipeg Weather/Grey Cup

Or is it balmy Winnipeggers in the weather???

For those scattered far and abroad, we're having a very atypical late fall here in often frigid "Winterpeg." We were shovelling snow on Hallowe'en. But that's all melted. This past Sunday, Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup game, and it was just barely below freezing. Today's "Winnipeg Free Press" said that it was warm enough that one of the area golf courses is open! Now, if we could only get the wind to stop blowing....

One Grey Cup side note for those who think they make some of the worst, most public mistakes. During the post-game victory celebrations after the Grey Cup game, one (or more) of the B.C. Lions players broke the historic trophy! It snapped in two. Imagine, all of Canada watching, and cup is broken in two! I should note that this isn't the first such mishap. An article in the Free Press notes that it has survived a fire, been sat on (and broken), headbutted (and broken) and even forgotten and left behind. Having had my own mishaps in life, I can only begin to imagine what it would be like to have an "ooops moment" in front of the national media. How embarassing and humiliating.

On the other side, there's the rest of the story. Ben Klumper of Quest Metal has already repaired the trophy (which has now been shipped off to B.C.). Ben's work brings a couple of thoughts to mind. (Surely, I can't not "preach" about this - a little). First, it reminds me of God's grace. No matter how much we mess up, He helps us put things back together. No matter how humiliating, embarassing or hurt we may be, even devastated, God can help us overcome it. Second, I see Ben's work as a model for our role as Christians - to be there when others have messed up and help them pick up the pieces. Mistakes and even failures don't have to be hopeless or fatal.

Getting Started

Hi there. As a teenager, I was a big fan of Mad Magazine. One of the regular features then (couldn't tell you if they still do it, since I haven't seen an issue in years) was the little cartoons that appeared in the white space around the pages. These were attributed to the "Marginal Thinking Department." I've always liked that, so I'll borrow the term for my blog. Welcome to the "Marginal Thinking Department."

My first question, and maybe yours, is why, given the number of classes, sermons, articles and editorials I write, I would undertake something like this. Perhaps, it is because this can be more spontaneous (aka disorganized) and informal -- not to mention something that could be much less serious. (Despite what some may think, I actually do have a sense of humor -- maybe somewhat warped.)

I can't promise to do this daily, but will try to do it often enough to make your visits worthwhile. I will also try to learn how to use the various options that are available on these blogs.