Merry Christmas (a bit late!)!!

Hi All!

Sorry it has been six days since my last post.  I am not quite used to this "write something everyday" thing again.  Plus, we had my parents here for a visit and then . . . well, you know how it goes.

I know that I have more of my story to finish but I thought I would diverge just a little bit today to talk about something a bit more relevant to the time (Christmas, of course!).

During the Christmas Eve service at our church, the pastor spoke about "the message being in the music."  That got me thinking.  As some of you might know, I "collect" music.  Not a genre specific vinyl record collection or anything like that.  I just like to acquire music from all over.  All different kinds of music.

As you might suspect, I have been listening to Christmas music for the past week or so (actually, I listen to Christmas music all year long because there is NEVER enough time to hear all the good songs when you confine them to just the holiday season!).  Due to my eclectic taste, I found myself listening to traditional songs sung by Bing Crosby and then launching into non-traditional songs by more current artists.  I even bopped along with Christmas rap songs!  It is quite a mix I have!

No matter what the genre of music.  No matter who was singing.  No matter how many weird sound effects there were.  I noticed that each and every song had something in common.

Each song celebrated Christmas.  Not a generic holiday (okay, there were a few of those in the mix but very few), but CHRISTmas.  Most of the songs specifically sited the birth of Jesus as the reason for the season.  Some were even prefaced with a prayer or a reading of scripture - there was even scripture in one of the rap songs!!

It struck me that everyone, no matter how different, can come together and celebrate the same thing once a year - the birth of Christ. 

I understand that not everyone believes the same as I do as a Christian.  I understand that different beliefs have different celebrations but, I think that no matter what we believe or how we celebrate, we can enjoy the season and celebrate with each other.

There are some groups of people in the world who are very vocally against displays of the religious story of Christmas.  They claim that by having a manger scene in front of a church or in a town square, they are being "Forced" to celebrate Christmas. 

Personally, I think that someone needs to stand up to these people and tell them that by limiting my expression of my Christian beliefs so I don't "offend" them, they are, in fact, FORCING me into their beliefs. 

If I wanted to be atheist, I would be.  But making me NOT celebrate Christmas (or any other religious holiday) is forcing to me practice THAT belief.

I don't like that.  I don't like it one bit.

Merry Christmas.   Merry CHRIST mas!

To all of my non-christian friends, please have a wonderful holiday season no matter what you celebrate.  I respect your religious celebrations and appreciate that you respect mine.

Trisha