A WISH AND A PRAYER Daniel A. Brown, Ph.D.

At the outset of this Christmas (not Xmas) season, I thought it would be helpful to outline
my thoughts about how we, as believers, ought to feel about the secular trimmings around
the Tree. I have no argument with anyone, nor do I wish to impose my thoughts on you.
But you might find them helpful in resolving the seasonal dilemma we face with St. Nick
and all the rest of the commercialized goodies.

My family loves Christmas. We consider Christmas music a style; Pamela and Hilary’s
birthdays in early November signal the advent of that “wonderful time of the year.” We
get our tree (a huge one that almost always scrapes the ceiling) the day after Thanksgiving.
We fill our house, inside and out, with every kind of ornament, wreath and decoration
known to woman.

Christmas day has just a few rules: no one may open presents until Pamela is present
(around 8:00 am), but stockings are fare game anytime after 5:00 am; gifts are opened one
a time, starting with the youngest person and rotating eventually to the oldest (me); eat
what you want when you want and play with your Christmas loot whenever, for as long as
you want. It is the most relaxed, excited day of the year.

Even thought the retailers try to exploit Christmas gift-giving, I prefer to look beyond their
opportunism to see how our culture celebrates the Savior they hardly know. How great is
that? Think how sad it is in countries where Christmas isn’t celebrated at all, or where it
has been replaced with purely secular icons.

Christmas centers lots of attention on a tree. To me, the shining lights represent the light
of God coming into a darkened world; the beautiful ornaments remind me of how
uniquely God crafts each human; the sound of carols, the scent of cider in the air tune
every heart in a heightened awareness of something beyond the ordinary.

Christmas generates expectation and words of delight in almost every heart. Even though
much of that expectation is material, it is about gifts received…and given. No wonder that
the enemy tries so hard to bring depression and loneliness so acutely at this time of year.

So I say, bring on the tree and Santa (we have a large decoration on our porch of Santa
kneeling in the manger in front of baby Jesus). My kids learned the difference between a
wish to Santa Claus for a doll or a game, and a prayer to Jesus Christ for the true needs of
their soul.

I see no conflict in Christmas — only more opportunity to celebrate all that it means.

Ho! Ho! Ho! and Joy to the World.

The Coastlands,
Aptos Foursquare Church