Father Tom Miles, from St. Paul's Episcopal in Manhattan, took the time to write this great reminder about the Christmas season. I'm sure everyone has a list for Santa, at least I know I do, but it is important to remember this season isn't about getting everything on our list, but about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks for this great reminder Fr Tom!
In addition to the pressure of dead week and finals week this year you have the added concern about the amount of money available for your next semester, next year or even next school. In fact we are all wondering how we can get ready for Christmas given the tight budget we are all constrained to follow. Perhaps I can help. There are lots of ways to approach the coming holiday without focusing on costs.
1.Focus on those relationships you value the most and ponder how you can show your love for your most intimate friends and relations by giving gifts that reflect your unique talents. Some times you can produce something that your closest intimates will value more than anything you can purchase.
2.Remember that your time is a valuable asset. What most people long for is someone else’s undivided attention. Spending quality time with the ones you care for can be the most rewarding time this season without spending money.
3.Christmas is a time that brings out nostalgia. One very rewarding pastime, especially with your older friends, is remembering past Christmases. What was the best thing you can remember about Christmases past?
4.Do not, under any circumstances, use your credit cards to purchase gifts, food, spirits or any other things if you do not have the money to pay for them. This only deepens the hole of debt, and you don’t want to face an even larger dept than you already have in January. That’s when folks get really depressed anyway.
5.I could summarize the above by simply suggesting that relationships can be far more rewarding than things, so focus on the relationships.
6.Last and I saved this for the last because it is my favorite, focus on the reason for the season. In most Christian Churches we emphasize this season as a time to wait and watch—for God. Yes, it is a time of preparation. Not preparation for a particular day, but we’re preparing our own souls for the coming of the one who promises to come and live with us. Gathering with those people who worship God actually strengthens our capacity to know and love God. In my book, that is the most important part of celebrating Christmas. All the rest is tinsel and lights.
Good luck on your finals. And have a very merry Christmas.
Fr. Tom Miles
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