CELC Column Holidaze

"What's Pastor Holley Thinking?"

December 7, 2004

Today I am thinking about “holidaze.” Note that I am deliberately misspelling the word, “holidays.” I use “daze” because this time of year seems to put so many into a trance or daze. We get rushed, hurried, worried, trying to be everything for everybody and all it does is leave us dazed and demoralized. At best we feel like we managed to survive. At worst we are depressed, disheartened, feeling like this is the worst time of the year.

Let me offer a few thoughts: first, be kind to yourself. You cannot make everyone happy at any time of the year. Do your best with gift giving, dinners, or whatever, and realize that the other folks are responsible for their own happiness, not you. A large myth in our society is that we have to make everyone else happy. You cannot do that and it is a very “slippery” slope down which you will slide into the inevitable depression, questioning yourself, why you could not make that other person act in a certain way. Be responsible for yourself, do your best and let it go.

The mother of James and John came to Jesus asking that these two disciples be granted the “key” places of honor at the right and left hand of Jesus when he came into his kingdom. Could they, please, be on the right and left hand sides of his throne? Jesus answered that this was not something for him to give. It was not his role to give away the positions to honor to James and John, let alone any one else. Jesus knew that trying to make others happy is a dead end road; even when their mother makes the request.

So, be kind and a give people a lot of room during these “holidaze” times. Lots of folks will be over loaded and burdened, make room for them; be kind.

I would go so far as to encourage prayer and scripture reading. The meaning of the season comes to us as we avail ourselves of the means God has given to us: the word and prayer. Take time each day to stop, read, reflect, and pray. It will be a different season of your life, and the “holidaze” will be at a minimum. Open yourself to the possibility of God coming. It is Advent.

- Pastor Holley