And so the holidays, the holy days, Christmas days, Hanukkah
evenings, Kwanzaa, the whole season, operation Santa Claus has begun, now 'til
January 1, 2018. But first a story....
There once was a man who served a delicious ham for his
family every Christmas Day dinner. But
before he’d cook that roast, he always unwrapped it, cut it exactly in half,
then placed those two pieces in two pans in the oven. One year his wife asked,
“Hon...why two pieces? Why not just cook it whole.” The husband said, “You
know...I’m not really sure—that’s just how my Mom always did it, so that's what
I do.” So he called his mother and asked, “Why do you cut the Christmas ham in
two before you cook it?” and she replied, “Actually I have no idea. That’s just
how Grandma did it so that’s how I do it--you might ask her.” And so he phoned
his grandmother. “Nana; why do you always cook the ham in two pans for
Christmas? Is it a secret family recipe?
Does it make it taste better? Is there some religious significance to it?” She
laughed. “No!! One Christmas many years ago I bought a ham that was too big for
one pan so I just cut it in half and put it in two small pans. You aren’t still
cooking it that way, are you!?”
Funny how we humans so often forget to ask "Why?"
when it comes to this life. As in:
"Why am I still doing 'it' this way?" Funny how we can so easily continue to just do,
what we do, because, well, that's what we've always done, and so, that is what
we will still do. Like the holidays. So we "do" Christmas this way or
that way because...well...wait. When is
the last time you or I really thought about this seemingly obvious but rarely if
ever asked question?
Why do we "do" the holidays?
Why all the shopping and cooking and buying and partying and
overeating and traveling and listing and worrying and singing and praying and
hoping and believing and consuming and charging and mailing and decorating and
baking and cleaning and finally collapsing?!
Is it about all the stuff?
The purchasing and giving and receiving of things, material items, goods
and services? I wonder. That does seem to be a huge focus of these holidays. By the end of December, Americans will spend
on average $967.13, collectively $682 billion, for holiday purchases in
2017. Connect that whopping figure to
the flood of advertising in the media and packed mall parking lots and it would
be easy to conclude that we do holidays mainly to get and to give. Maybe that's why.
Is it all about the things to do, the crush of the
calendar? The office parties and the
neighborhood shindigs and Yankee Swaps and the holiday lunches and brunches,
the way our schedules fill to overflowing at years' end? I wonder. I know I am busier in December than in any
other month, with both work and play and family. It is a lot of fun to see old friends and
party, but boy, there is so, so much to get to and to do. I never have enough time to do it all.
Holidays are always about hurrying.
Maybe that's why.
Or is it about something deeper somehow? Something
primordial, spiritual, even mystical? I
wonder. As the light fades and we enter
into the darkest time of the year in this part of the world, and the air chills,
there stirs within us a desire for something beyond ourselves to break forth in
Creation. To bring us hope. To embody a dream of peace on earth and goodwill to
all people. To move us to reunite with loved ones, even reconcile with those we
have been lost to or from. To give not just
to those who have much but also to those who have little. To return to a faith
tradition. Holidays then become holy
days. Maybe that's why.
Why the holidays?
Only you can ask and answer that query if you choose to do
so. Only you can encourage your loved ones to ponder that mystery. The holiday
extravaganza and machine just keeps on rolling on: of that we can be absolutely
sure. So go ahead. I dare you. Ask,
"Why?" The answer you seek and
find may be the best gift you receive this December.
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