Comments on: Working through the Christmas list http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2008/12/11/working-through-the-christmas-list/ Living Out My Faith in a Caffeinated World Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:12:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dianne http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2008/12/11/working-through-the-christmas-list/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Dianne Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:06:09 +0000 http://coffeeshopjournal.com/?p=712#comment-1131 As always, it's good to know I'm not the only one struggling with this. I think part of it has been an increased awareness over the past few years of the reality that Christmas as we know is so far from what God intends for it to be (I think your #5 above is so true). It seems I'm straddling the fence, so to speak, between a new understanding of things like empire and community and how really world-rocking Christ's coming was, and living in the reality of family expectations, etc. But then I realize, it's a good place to be, this struggling. That said, I have not yet met any of the expectation side of Christmas yet. I am surprised I am not more stressed but wondering if I'm just delaying it all - ha! I guess I'm trying to see how little I can get by with doing, for once! As always, it’s good to know I’m not the only one struggling with this. I think part of it has been an increased awareness over the past few years of the reality that Christmas as we know is so far from what God intends for it to be (I think your #5 above is so true). It seems I’m straddling the fence, so to speak, between a new understanding of things like empire and community and how really world-rocking Christ’s coming was, and living in the reality of family expectations, etc. But then I realize, it’s a good place to be, this struggling.

That said, I have not yet met any of the expectation side of Christmas yet. I am surprised I am not more stressed but wondering if I’m just delaying it all – ha! I guess I’m trying to see how little I can get by with doing, for once!

]]> By: Catherine http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2008/12/11/working-through-the-christmas-list/comment-page-1/#comment-1127 Catherine Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:44:35 +0000 http://coffeeshopjournal.com/?p=712#comment-1127 I've talked to more people who are in a malaise this year. It doesn't help that the media seems intent on depressing us with each and every statement. I have given myself the 'ok' to do Christmas more simply this year. Our family is going to spend more time together, and less time going places..... I should probably take some time for myself to re-charge, as you say. I am not good about that at all! I’ve talked to more people who are in a malaise this year. It doesn’t help that the media seems intent on depressing us with each and every statement. I have given myself the ‘ok’ to do Christmas more simply this year. Our family is going to spend more time together, and less time going places….. I should probably take some time for myself to re-charge, as you say. I am not good about that at all!

]]> By: bring on the joy http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2008/12/11/working-through-the-christmas-list/comment-page-1/#comment-1125 bring on the joy Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:06:53 +0000 http://coffeeshopjournal.com/?p=712#comment-1125 Hey Marla Once again you've pulled a wonderfully sane, profound and practical post out of your blogging hat. Thank you! We've spent the last couple of weeks in our household basically putting Christmas preparations on hold because of illness, and because our little girl has her birthday at the beginning of December so until we've done that Christmas is still a distant proposition. Christmas is so full of expectation, and I've found the more spiritual dimensions of that expectation have become crowded out. I think your reflection that time apart to recharge is important is so right. I find myself wanting to create this beautiful perfect celebration, and yet the times that Christmas has had the most significance for me as a Christian festival are the times when I've forgotten to do 'perfect' and just gone for 'as good as we can manage'. In other words, I've lowered my expectations, refocussed on allowing space for Advent, and tried to give greater priority to the helpful things our church does to draw us into this wonderful event. So I think for us, Advent will really begin next week, when (hopefully) we're all over the flu, when work begins to wind down and when we start to make time for absorbing Christmas. Our tree is up, but I've not yet written any Christmas cards or wrapped any gifts. I have spent many happy evenings making presents for family and have had some lovely conversations with our (newly) four year old as she begins to really 'get' what the Christmas story is about. This last point has been for me the really special thing so far about this year's Christmas, as we spend time with her helping her to make sense of it all - and trying to figure out how Santa fits into it all! Sorry for the long comment. Put it down to the fevered ramblings of a flu-ridden woman! Hey Marla
Once again you’ve pulled a wonderfully sane, profound and practical post out of your blogging hat. Thank you!
We’ve spent the last couple of weeks in our household basically putting Christmas preparations on hold because of illness, and because our little girl has her birthday at the beginning of December so until we’ve done that Christmas is still a distant proposition.
Christmas is so full of expectation, and I’ve found the more spiritual dimensions of that expectation have become crowded out. I think your reflection that time apart to recharge is important is so right. I find myself wanting to create this beautiful perfect celebration, and yet the times that Christmas has had the most significance for me as a Christian festival are the times when I’ve forgotten to do ‘perfect’ and just gone for ‘as good as we can manage’. In other words, I’ve lowered my expectations, refocussed on allowing space for Advent, and tried to give greater priority to the helpful things our church does to draw us into this wonderful event.
So I think for us, Advent will really begin next week, when (hopefully) we’re all over the flu, when work begins to wind down and when we start to make time for absorbing Christmas. Our tree is up, but I’ve not yet written any Christmas cards or wrapped any gifts. I have spent many happy evenings making presents for family and have had some lovely conversations with our (newly) four year old as she begins to really ‘get’ what the Christmas story is about. This last point has been for me the really special thing so far about this year’s Christmas, as we spend time with her helping her to make sense of it all – and trying to figure out how Santa fits into it all!
Sorry for the long comment. Put it down to the fevered ramblings of a flu-ridden woman!

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