Lest you think I was referring to that classic Shirley Jones and David Cassidy show about the single mom leading her kids in a band, let me be clear here that I am spending the next--now nine--days of Christmas encouraging my congregation and my blog readers to "let Christmas linger" by focusing on the Twelve Days of Christmas (the season, not the song).
In fact, there have been ample attempts to find the deep Christian significance of the Twelve Days of Christmas (the song, not the season) and some of them are quite clever and consistent. But urban legends all, I'd say. For a nice description of the Twelve Days (both season and song) that acknowledges both the myth and the helpfulness of it, I'd suggest following this link. You may even want to use it each day to think about another aspect of the Christian faith.
Let me be clear here, that in encouraging a lingering Christmas, I am not talking about spending time at the after Christmas sales, drinking extra egg nog and eating more and more Christmas cookies. If you feel like indulging a bit, so be it, but the last thing we need is for the "Christmas chaos" that so makes the last days before the holiday such a stress.
Instead, let Christmas linger in your heart, mind and soul. Take time now that the day is over to use the season to "ponder nothing earthly minded" as the old carol encourages.
Also, here is another suggestion for how to "let Christmas linger" during these Twelve Days from Christmas to Epiphany:
Let Christmas linger in your conversation with others. Keep conversing about Christmas.
Really. While others are beginning to talk New Years' resolutions, and the stores are encouraging early shopping for Valentines' day, let's keep thinking and talking about the good news of God with us.
You see, since so often the Christmas carols are sung amidst the chaos of preparing for packages, meals and guests. We rarely get to sit with others and talk about the meaning, the significance, the difference that God's coming to earth should make.
If you are not in a liturgically focused church, you may never even study the gospel passages like Matthew 1-2, and Luke 1-2. They are only read in pageants and in candlelight services. But this would be a great time to read not only about angels and shepherds, but about Anna and Simeon, Mary's Magnificat, Elizabeth and John the Baptist, the Magi, Herod and the Slaughter of the Innocents.
You may even want to spend some time listening to the Christmas music you missed and talking to a friend or adding a comment to this blog. (When was the last time Bach's Christmas Oratorio or Handell's Messiah was played in the mall?)
For the rest of this Christmas season I will both offer some of my thoughts and point to some friends who can help us keep the Christmas conversation going. So check in here each day between now and January 6 and we'll let Christmas linger--together.
Note to neophyte blog readers: Since some of you are first timers to my site or any (encouraged by my sermon last Sunday), you may want to spend a few minutes reading my "Welcome Blogs". They serve as an introduction and might be helpful.
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