Spirit Days

Written by Bob Houghtaling. 

Just about now many of us are booked solid for the holidays. Visits, parties, shopping, traveling and putting together all kinds of lists gets overwhelming at times. With all of this going on it is easy to forget why we are doing much of this stuff anyways.

A number of folks have been warning us about the over-commercialization of the holiday season for years. Charles Dickens told us through Ebenezer Scrooge and much later movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life reiterated the theme. Despite these efforts it is still difficult to balance the season’s obligations with the spirit that is the essence of it all. How do we keep the soul dynamic of Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas and other holidays? Whatever dates these and other holidays fall on, are they not bigger than a day, week or month? Perhaps we should begin by extending those seasons even further.

That is right. Let us make the holiday season even longer. The present season begins sometime in October (even though some Christmas stuff pops up in September). By the time Thanksgiving and Black Friday arrive everyone is already in holiday mode. Yes, let’s make the season longer-only with a twist. If we can remind ourselves of what the holidays are about, maybe the spirit of those days might carry us throughout the year.

Why should giving be limited to December? Why should gathering friends and family be relegated to late November and December? Let’s make up some new holiday rules.

Why not volunteer at a soup kitchen in March? Why not light a candle in June to remind yourself (and your family) of the power of your belief. Why can’t Christmas be celebrated again in May? Why can’t Kwanzaa be recognized in August? Why can’t Ramadan be given extra emphasis throughout the year? Celebrations do not have to be limited to buying, traveling and rushing. Leave that stuff to its present mode. Let us revel in the spirit of the holidays year round. In doing so, the hustle and bustle will be seen for what it is. In doing so, the spirit of our beliefs will also be felt in a deeper sense.

Silly? Maybe. Trite? Perhaps. Is it really so bad that we believe in things greater than ourselves? Is it so bad that we recognize a sense of community? Add in purpose, meaning, love, hope and every day could become a holiday.

So, the next time you are stuck in a line or searching for ways to tolerate a difficult family member, think of extending the holiday season. Why try forcing everyone and everything into a tiny window of opportunity? Limiting love to a few days does not sound like much fun to me.

Sometimes it is in the simplest things that can bring us the most joy. A smile, remembrance, a letter from a friend, are all things that lighten the heart. Sure, I think it is great to keep the economy going with all of this buying stuff, but equally important is keeping ourselves going. Maybe the buying can wait a day or two. After all, when we are old and grey what will be remembered more, loved ones or some possessions?

Perhaps it is time to invent "Spirit Days." In recent years, we have created Black Friday and Cyber Monday to promote business. We have also extended shopping to Holidays, Sundays and extra hours. If we can do that why not begin looking at ways to create or extend Spirit Days? If it is too difficult to carry the holiday spirit on throughout the year why not set aside your own personal ‘Spirit Day’ at least one day per month. Use this day as you may (with emphasis on purpose, love, hope and community). If you are brave make it a big deal. Tell your friends and family.

Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior never got caught in long lines shopping for gold, frankincense and myrrh. They also never got caught up in Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

I find it interesting that a poor child, born in a stable to an unwed mother, was visited by three rich and powerful men bearing gifts. How did that dynamic turn into the one we have today? I write this two days after the death of Nelson Mandela. Much has been written about his trials and tribulations.  He was not a perfect human being, but often sinners make the greatest saints. It should be noted that at one time he was considered a communist to be feared. At one time Ronald Reagan vetoed sanctions against Apartheid. Also, it wasn’t until very recently that a special waiver was lifted for Mr. Mandela to enter into the United States. Still, Nelson Mandela found the strength to offer forgiveness and reconciliation. Those are gifts that come from a higher place. Those are gifts we should carry throughout the entire year.

By creating our own Spirit Days, maybe the feeling of the Holiday Season can carry on throughout the year. John Kennedy once said, “It is better to light a candle than to sit and curse the dark.” If we can follow this wisdom an eternal flame may extend beyond the season. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Hope you enjoy your Spirit Days. Ubuntu!