Hanukkah Hassles and Christmas Chaos
I never thought I would hear the words.
Sitting across from each other at the kitchen table my wife looked at me and said, “When I think about decorating for the holidays it makes me tired. I just don’t have the desire to do it.”
I went dumb with disbelief. She loved decorating our home for the holidays. No Christmas tree mind you, but a tasteful garland splashed with ornaments representing both Hanukkah and Christmas: an array of crèches, menorahs, and well-worn childhood holiday crafts created by our now-grown children.
My confusion grew with the ensuing silence. Was this a test to see if my own long-standing ambivalence-bordering-on-antipathy toward the practice had changed? Was she subtly trying my willingness to be a supportive husband? Was it just the exhaustion of a long day?
A few days later we decorated…joyfully. My beloved bride did not need physical rest. She wasn’t renouncing the very real and joyful pleasure of making our home a symbol of all that is real in Hanukkah and Christmas or the joy of gift-giving as tangible expressions of our love for others. Her lethargy was a symptom of that great joy thief, “Hanukkah hassles and Christmas chaos,” which buries the real meaning of the holidays in the busyness of the season.
Like a child beauty queen whose God-given beauty is lost in layers of adult makeup, the true beauty of Hanukkah and Christmas is obscured under layers of beloved traditions. Even religious traditions can overwhelm the reality they are meant to serve – leaving us exhausted.
Thankfully there is an antidote!
As we enter this often hassle-filled and chaotic season let us encourage one another in pressing past the busyness of traditions into their reality. The key is remembering that their reality is not an attitude, activity, or religious observance. It is a person, Messiah Jesus, the One in whom all of God’s ancient promises are fulfilled for our good, Jews and Gentiles alike.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.[1]
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.[2]
Written by Dan, LIFE Board Chair
1. What traditions or activities might the Lord be asking you to let go of?
2. What can you do to focus your attention on the Jewish Messiah Jesus this season?
Endnotes:
[1] From the prophet Isaiah chapter 9 verses 6-7, written circa 700 BCE.
[2] From the prophet Micah chapter 5 verse 2, written circa 750 BCE.