Advent 2014

In this season of love and openness, we are again given the chance to open our hearts to each other and all creation. We give gifts in imitation of the greatest of Gift Givers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could open the space in our hearts to give each other the gift of respect, recognition and honor? We certainly intend to do so, but somehow in our focus on our own perspective, we can fail to recognize when we are disrespectful.

Everyone doesn’t celebrate in the same way at this time of year. Each religion has its own unique way of honoring the Creator. For Christians, it is a commemoration of the birth of Christ. The greeting Merry Christmas! or Joyeux Noel! or Feliz Navidad! is appropriate. Jewish friends can be greeted with Happy Hanukkah or Blessed Festival of Lights. Yuletide is the feast for nature-based religions. Kwanzaa is a rich, cultural-based celebration for African Americans.

Other religions may or may not have a ritual experience at this time of year, but all human beings recognize the significance of the changing of the seasons. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is winter time with long nights and short cold days. Our southern brothers and sisters are celebrating their feasts in summer heat and long warm days. Who is to say there is only one greeting at this time of the year? And who can know what is in the heart of the person at the checkout counter? Many of us are inclined to resent the substitution of “Happy Holidays” for their traditional “Merry Christmas.” But saying Happy Holidays can be a way of honoring the possibility that another person may be different from you, yet you still wish them all the joy of this wonderful season.

Yes, I’m Christian and my spirit is being enriched with the rituals and messages of Advent and Christmas and Epiphany these days, but when someone acknowledges that we aren’t well enough acquainted to know what tradition I follow and chooses to greet me with Happy Holidays, I’m grateful to be greeted. No need to be offended. I know that God’s gracious goodness is wide enough to encompass all of us. We are all one family, but with oh, so many expressions of faith.