I have extracted this, completely out of context, from an e-mail in which it made total sense, because nonetheless it amused me. I can so sympathize with the sentiments it expresses, even though they weren't those of the writer.
I am not ready for Christmas. Not only in a secular, material sense (cards to be written, cookies to be bakes, presents to be bought, wrapped, and shipped), but spiritually. As one for whom Christmas has 12 days, and doesn't begin till December 25th, I know that we are now in Advent, that powerful, yet neglected, season of repentance and contemplation, of preparation and anticipation. I'm ready for Advent hymns, not Christmas carols.Many of our friends are making a determined effort to celebrate Advent with their families. (See Simply Serena, Smithical, and Groshlink for some ideas.) I commend them and am impressed by their creativity. And yet I find myself unable to find the right balance between living in the world and living apart, of maintaining our differences while being part of the culture in which we live. To maintain Advent until Christmas Eve, as some do, seems unreasonable, if not impossible. For one thing, as choir members we have been singing about Christmas for weeks in rehearsal. Everywhere we look there are Christmas decorations, and soon there will be Christmas TV specials, Christmas parties, and Christmas music everywhere. If, Grinch-like, we refuse to celebrate, we appear surly to our neighbors, who will in turn be surly to us when we insist on playing Christmas music after noon on December 25th. Somehow it cuts the legs out from under the holiday, and flattens the joy.
So here I stand, one foot on sea and one on shore: I'll keep Advent as I can, and delight in being in a church that won't exchange its Advent purple for Christmas white till the night of December 24. But feel free to wish me a Merry Christmas, even now. ("Happy Advent" just doesn't sound right.) I know it won't be long before I allow our mp3 player to dip into the "Christmas" playlist. After all, when there is no hope of falling flakes to provide an atmosphere conducive to Christmas-card writing, one may be excused for taking stronger measures.
