What’s the rush?

This time of year, after Halloween, I see posts and memes on social media about when people think is the right time to put up Christmas trees and decorations.

Obviously it is up to the individual. I know people who do it early because they enjoy the lights. People get ‘itchy’ to do it because they go into stores and see everything up, and all the Christmas items are on the shelves for sale.

Time flies by. Too quickly.

I’m the type that tries to slow down time, and to enjoy each day, and not rush on to the next thing. By the way, the next thing is Thanksgiving.

So, I admit I get a feeling of sadness when I see the seasons and the holidays go by so quickly. I get a bit annoyed at the rush for Christmas.

There are two Christmases. The secular one with Santa and lots of glitz and too many parties. Then there is the religious Christmas. You know, the one with the baby Jesus born in a stable, who came into the world through a teenager named Mary. God’s son that came to earth to show us how to live, and to let us know the grace of God, and the hope for eternal life.

This morning I saw a meme about decorating for Christmas and I wondered how many Christians actually follow the church calendar and celebrate Advent first. Advent starts the church year off. It is four weeks of preparation for the arrival of the baby Jesus. I’m sure you have seen Advent calendars for sale (with chocolate behind each door). I grew up with them but they had written scripture telling the Christmas story behind each door. We also had an Advent wreath with 5 candles on it that was kept on our table and we lit a new candle each week. Each week brought more light, and then the special Christmas candle in the middle was lit on Christmas Day. The light of the world has arrived. It’s a tradition that is fading.

Christians are supposed to be different. We are meant to be examples of the teachings found in the Bible. We are to spread the Good News, and to follow the commandments and the B’attitudes. It’s hard to do at times. Right? It’s so easy to slip into the secular ways. Not that they are all bad. But they can be stressful. Expensive. Tiring.

I think that is why I feel weird about this time of year. The secular Christmas is so in my face already. The rush to do all the lights and to put up the trees early, and everything is already about Christmas – already.

Already.

I want Thanksgiving. I want to experience thanks and gratitude. I want to do one holiday at a time.

I want to acknowledge Advent. I’m a Christian that wants to use the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas to prepare. Not now. Not yet. I want to slow down. I want to wait and see the twinkling lights and feel the awe and joy closer to Christmas. I want to create that feeling then – not now.

Don’t get me wrong though. I am buying some gifts. I want to allow enough time for purchasing and shipping and wrapping. I am practicing Christmas music with my bandmates, handbells, and flute choir friends now. I do what I can to relieve the stress I usually feel once December arrives. Because, yes, time flies by.

That’s why it’s so important to me to not push it even more. I want to find the joy, and to live it at the right time. I want to always acknowledge that Christmas is about Christ.

So for me, Advent is not here yet. The time for Christmas preparation is not here yet. I’m not ready for it yet.

Seriously, what’s the rush???