COMMENTARY: Here’s What’s on My (Early) Christmas List

c. 2006 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ Seven weeks before Christmas, I discovered Christmas in full swing here. Stores were in lavish decor. Twinkly lights turned Park Avenue into a wonderland. Holiday movies and seasonal stage shows were playing again. Not a problem. In fact, I’m all for an early Christmas. We need the […]

c. 2006 Religion News Service

NEW YORK _ Seven weeks before Christmas, I discovered Christmas in full swing here. Stores were in lavish decor. Twinkly lights turned Park Avenue into a wonderland. Holiday movies and seasonal stage shows were playing again.

Not a problem. In fact, I’m all for an early Christmas. We need the respite from nasty election campaigns, mounting debacles overseas, cascading reports of corporate and political corruption, a leading evangelical admitting he wasn’t so righteous after all, sagging retail and housing sales, and expanding layoffs.


Not that twinkly lights will elevate our politicians or undo the price of arrogance. But we need some “everlasting light” to shine in our “dark streets.” The sooner, the better.

We need hope. Real hope. The hope that only faith can give. Not tinselly dreams of perfect gifts, but hope that family, friends and giving still matter.

Not escapist dreams of political and economic problems vanishing overnight, but hope that wisdom, common sense and decency will prevail, that shabby greed isn’t the final word.

Not wild-eyed dreams of smiting foes and thrilling shouts of victory, but hope that God’s dream of oneness and mercy will reclaim human hearts.

I hope that churches will pay attention. I know many churches have a tradition of delaying Christmas observances until we have given Advent its due, often while snarling at retailers’ rush to deploy Santas. But if ever there was a time to be singing songs of hope and “Christmas cheer,” it is now. I would be happy to give up dull Advent hymns if it meant we could sing about God’s gift of his son ASAP.

I hope that families will take the next seven weeks not just to shop, but to contemplate the blessings of family, our shared need for warmth and love, and the promise of light in the darkness. Our yearning for each other can blossom long after gift-buying funds are depleted.

I hope that citizens will remember those who stand in harm’s way. Whatever folly in Washington landed them in battle, there they are, and they deserve our respect and gratitude. Christmas wishes couldn’t start too early.


I hope the haves will take a moment to see the have-nots, whose ranks are expanding and conditions worsening. The birth of a messiah, after all, was about the needy. This is a good time for charity, but even more, it is a good time to ask if we have too much. Yes, we earned it, but do we need it?

I hope that we can declare a “Christmas Truce” in our warfare between genders, between sexual orientations, among religions and among races. Our fights add nothing to the Christmas story, except to prove humanity’s need for God to act decisively and to bring us all to silence. How wonderful it would be if the world saw Christians laying down righteous armor and picking up branches of peace. Talk about “Joy to the World!”

For any of this to happen, of course, we would need to believe what we preach. We would need to believe the Christmas message of “peace on earth, good will toward men,” and “angels bending near the earth.” We need to “come and worship,” and for “every heart prepare him room.”

Maybe we need to sing “Joy to the World” every Sunday through December, until finally we comprehend that we are God’s creation and it is “truth and grace,” not bombs and bullies, which should rule the world.

KRE/JL END EHRICH

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, consultant and leader of workshops. His book, “Just Wondering, Jesus: 100 Questions People Want to Ask,” was published by Morehouse Publishing. An Episcopal priest, he lives in Durham, N.C. His Web site is http://www.onajourney.org.)

To obtain a photo of this columnist, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.


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