An Unapologetic Merry Christmas - Tracy Krauss

Perhaps you've noticed the trend to replace the words 'Merry Christmas' with  'Happy Holidays' or 'Seasons Greetings'. I have nothing against these phrases. I use them myself on occasion, and I don't feel offended when others choose to use them. In my own heart I recognize that Jesus is the 'reason for the season' and I'm not about to get militant or political about it.

On the other hand, I have come across several folks who are quite vocal about their disapproval of using the more generic phrases instead of 'Merry Christmas'. The really interesting - and somewhat ironic - thing about this is that most of the people who seem so offended don't really display a very Christian attitude the rest of the year. 

One acquaintance told me recently that when someone says 'Happy Holidays' or 'Seasons Greetings' to her, she ignores them and won't respond. Hm. I wonder... is that what Jesus would do? 

Another person explained - quite vehemently - that he lectures those who dare use a generic term rather than 'Merry Christmas'. "It's all those foreigners trying to take over our holiday!" he spouts. "I tell them where they can shove it. Go back to your own country, I say!" Yikes. Not exactly the best way to emulate the spirit of the season... with or without the word 'Christmas'. 

My husband and I watched a Christmas comedy special featuring a well-known comedian. His opening monologue included a rant about how people are afraid to use the words 'Merry Christmas' these days. He unapologetically wished the audience a 'Merry Christmas' to resounding applause. Kudos to him, I thought with a nod. Then the show proceeded to bastardize Christ by mocking the virgin birth and was full of sexual innuendo and other inappropriate content. What was the point of his opening rant if he was just going to make fun of Christ in the end?

Actions speak so much louder than words. No matter what the phraseology, we must show the love of Christ through our actions; we must be ambassadors of the good news both now and throughout the year. 'Merry Christmas' is a hollow greeting if I don't intimately know and represent the one the phrase represents. That is the true meaning of the phrase.

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC. visit her website: tracykrauss.com -fiction on the edge without crossing the line- 

The Irony of Writing by Tandy Balson

The irony was not lost on me.  I had been putting off writing this month’s blog post because I couldn’t think of anything to say.  Our prompt is to write about a time we were stripped bare and not able to write.  My difficulty was coming up with a specific time this has happened to me.  My subconscious mind shouted, “How about right now?”

My deadline was in mere hours and I needed to focus.  No ideas were coming but I had fifteen minutes before I needed to leave for an appointment so knew I should at least get a thought or two down on paper. Instead, my gift of procrastination took over. I set up the ironing board and worked on making my husband’s shirts wrinkle-free! I know I’m in avoidance when I choose ironing over writing!

As I ironed, I remembered a quote I’d seen on a t-shirt.  It said:  Irony – the opposite of wrinkly. I’d been looking for a place to use this quote and realized I’d just found it. My mind was wrinkly and thoughts were getting caught in those deep crevices.  If I could smooth out my thoughts I knew the words would come.  Perhaps the irony was just what was needed.

My writing mainly consists of short inspirational pieces that are posted online twice a week. Inspiration for these comes from events in my life or conversations I overhear. As an observer of life, there is usually plenty of material. In the times of creative abundance, I write as much as possible and save the extra stories in a file marked “Draft” on the computer.  This file is like an insurance policy. I know there will be occasions when I am not productive. For one reason or another, I am unable to string words together into a cohesive story.

Knowing I have backup material relieves the pressure of having to come up with a new idea. Sometimes I use one of these stories. Other times just looking through the titles springboards me into a new thought to write about.  I also have a file of pictures I’ve taken.  More than once I have looked through the pictures and been inspired to write about one of them.

These solutions are good when I can choose my topic.  Writing to theme is always more of a challenge for me.  Maybe what I did today works best.  First I engaged in a mindless activity and let my subconscious come up with an idea. Next, I sat at the computer and invited my subconscious to connect with my fingers.  Before I knew it, words had formed.  In order to write, I had to free myself of the need to write.  That plays directly into my sense of irony!