For those of you who have met me within the last few years, it may
surprise you to know that when I was in high school and college, I used to
volunteer with an organization that had me dress up as an elf, snowman or reindeer
and dance around to bring Christmas cheer at schools, nursing homes and other
places. The snowman had a "fur" suit that was supposed to resemble snow but made
me sweat so hard that I needed a headband to keep Frosty from popping his head
off to rub his stinging, sweat-filled eyes. When you play the snowman, you have
to be ready for that inevitable moment when they bring you up front and sing Frosty the Snowman and watch you dance. You have no idea how long Frosty
the Snowman lasts until you have to dance solo to it in a fur suit in a
warm nursing home.
One day, when I was assigned to play the snowman, I was doing my thumpety thump thump thing when I started
having a philosophical crisis (this is the part that will sound more recognizably
like me for those of you who still aren’t sure about the costumes and dancing
part). I realized that my song was not in any way related to Christmas. Not
only does it not have any of the spiritual meaning of Christmas, but it doesn’t
even mention secular aspects of Christmas such as Santa, cheer and ugly sweaters. How did
Frosty come to be associated with Christmas?
Turns out there are other songs that we sing at Christmas time but that
don’t mention Christmas or any other Christmas-related themes, including Jingle Bells, Let it Snow, Sleigh Ride
and Walking in a Winter Wonderland. At
best, these are winter songs.
The relationship between Christmas and cold has been weighing heavily
on me as I prepare for my first Christmas in Cambodia. The heat index this time of year can frequently top 100o, and
the concrete jungle that is Phnom Penh doesn’t hide you from the beating sun at
all. I
find that it is difficult to even remember that it is Christmas time, mostly
because of the heat. Christmas time is supposed to be cold, and it’s not
Christmas if it’s not at least a bit chilly.
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| Christmas decorations such as these are common throughout Phnom Penh. Even Cambodians who've never had a day of cold weather in their lives can't separate Christmas and cold weather. |
A colleague wrote me an email which concluded with the hope that I would have a meaningful time celebrating Christmas this year. I planned on responding with more complaining about how hot it was. But as I was writing, it hit me that I needed to go a step beyond complaining. I ended up writing the following: “It's hard to get in the spirit when it's so hot, but that's just a reminder that Christmas is not about all the trappings we associate it with. We look forward to finding new traditions and new ways to celebrate God made flesh.”
I think I do a decent job of avoiding the excessive consumerism of
Christmas. But as I wrote that email, I realized that I had another issue that
vied with Jesus as the most important part of Christmas: weather. Thinking that
Christmas should be cold is not bad in and of itself, but when heat keeps me
from getting in the mood to celebrate the incarnation of my Savior, the same
Savior whose coming led me to move to hot Cambodia in the first place, then I’ve
got a heart issue I need to examine. This Christmas I am convicted that I have
let something like weather determine how much I feel like celebrating God made
flesh. I am grateful for the heat because it provides an opportunity to strip
my celebration of Christmas down to what really matters.
As you celebrate Christmas this year, I ask two things of you. First, examine
your own heart. What is Christmas about for you? Be open to the possibility
that there are some subtle Christmas idols you’re holding on to. Second, pray
for those missionaries and others who live in places where they don’t get to
celebrate Christmas like they would in the US. It can be hard, and I’ve found
myself feeling a bit resentful in some unguarded moments. Pray that we would find new
traditions and would stop at nothing to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a way
befitting our Savior and not be content with celebrating him in ways that
merely befit the culture that has most popularized Christmas.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas as you find new ways to celebrate,
cherish the gifts God has given you, and live out what it means to celebrate a God who became human.
