20th December
As an atheist, hearing the phrase ‘the true meaning of Christmas’ is always a little irksome. It’s as if only Christians can celebrate Christmas properly.
We live in a nominally Christian country and yet all around me I see people behaving in the least Christian of ways.
Hateful, demeaning language permeates every area of public and private life. Hearing frazzled parents screaming abuse at their children in supermarkets, seeing the pleasure some take in the misfortune of others, watching our elected representatives lie and abuse their office, none of this seems very Christian to me.
I know there has been a meme circulating on the internet basically saying that if Jesus came back today, not only would he find no room at the inn, but no welcome in our country…bloody foreign prophets coming over here and stealing English prophet’s work!
If you want my opinion, and I’m sure you’re gagging for it, the true meaning of Christmas is now wrapped up in over indulgence which it would seem is the antithesis of what Jesus would have wanted…if he had existed.
There’s no better gift than the gift of time, so spend some with the people you love. Keep your celebrations simple and sincere and you’ll enjoy the festivities no less than those who spend a fortune decorating their houses with a million lights or going into debt to buy gifts that no one really needs.
Perhaps my view is coloured by the events of this year.
Having lived through a pretty crap 2019, celebrating is not really at the forefront of my mind but when you throw a 6 year old into the mix, you have to make a bit of an effort.
Today’s the day when we hold the annual works party. Considering I’m self employed and have no other employees, it’s a pretty cheap affair.
Chips, a glass of wine and a ride down the helter-skelter in Nottingham…although I leave the helter-skelter to Polly.
Without getting too serious, I think with the state of world being as it is, a simple Christmas is called for this year. Simple but no less valuable to those who share it.
And if you really want to claim that you understand the ‘true meaning of Christmas’ then make sure you donate to a charity instead of spending money on yourself. Remember what Jesus said…
‘the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one’.
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