That Astonishing Thing that No Commercialism Can Defile

My family and I are long-time fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, especially The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  My husband Jon and I had each read and loved those wonderful books more than once before we left college. 

When our children were 9 and 12, we embarked on a very ambitious project.  In anticipation of the release of Peter Jackson's film, The Fellowship of the Ring, Jon and I wanted to reread the entire four-volume work, and also give our kids the chance to experience it as Tolkien created it, before their imaginations were influenced by the film interpretation.  So we committed to spend approximately one hour each evening, all through the summer and fall of 2001, reading aloud that massive and beautiful saga.  The kids clamored for more every night, and this became the high point of our family life at that time.

However, none of us had ever seen or heard of Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas,* written and illustrated for his own children from 1920 to 1943.  During those years, Tolkien was best known as a scholar of Anglo-Saxon, which might sound rather dry.  But there is nothing at all dry about these letters, which are imaginative, whimsical, and downright funny.  They were obviously cherished by his four kids.

* I'm an Amazon Associate, and your purchases will earn me a small commission.  Thank you.

Well here comes Christmas!

Most of us have spent the past month or two preparing for December 25th – decorating, shopping, crafting, wrapping, baking, attending concerts and plays and parties and more.  We've devoted a lot of time, effort, and money in service of one day.

It's amazing, really, that American retailers can expect to make $1 trillion from Christmas sales this year.  It's remarkable that parents plan to spend, on average, over $400 per child for Christmas gifts (that doesn't count purchases by grandparents and other family members).  Shockingly, almost a third of Americans are still paying for last year's holiday debts, and the estimated total of unwanted gifts is expected to be over $10 billion.

Yet Tolkien reminds us in a letter to his son Michael,

"Well here comes Christmas!  That astonishing thing that no 'commercialism' can defile – unless we let it."

The history of humankind has been filled with war, famine, sickness, crime, and disaster, and no one has escaped alive.  But out of that tale of woe comes the birth of Jesus – a baby laid in a feed trough, but one who would rescue His people from their sorrows, bringing peace and an ultimate resolution to the problems of evil and death.  That "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10) is an astonishing event completely independent of all the extras we've attached to it.

A merry Christmas doesn't depend on all of the things we think are necessary to celebrate the season.  And no, I'm not a Grinch, although even he discovered that Christmas "... came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes, or bags."  It's not that those things are bad, just that they can be distracting or overwhelming, causing us to miss what's real about Christmas.

Tolkien reminds us that how we celebrate, and what we emphasize, is within our power.  It's our choice.  Christmas can be a season of peace, generosity, and connection, or a time of stress, debt, pushiness, and self-indulgence.  We decide.  Consumerism (aka "buying more stuff") doesn't have to be our focus.  This "most wonderful time of the year" doesn't have to be most wonderful for retailers.  We can do things differently.

Since Jesus was born into a poor working family – one which was forced into exile to escape the insane hatred of King Herod (Matthew 2:13-16) – one of my Christmas joys is giving to those who are in need.  Providing bags of groceries to the food pantry, blankets and warm socks to the homeless shelter, and a check to support lifesaving healthcare is more satisfying than a pile of presents under a dying tree.

(Full disclosure:  I bought some books and a board game for my growing grandsons.)

And while gift-giving might be one way to show love, it definitely isn't the only way.  What else can we give?  Time, attention, patience, encouragement, creativity, stories, laughter, hugs, and happy shared experiences will undoubtedly mean even more as you and your loved ones look back on this holiday.

Being fully present and active in the life of someone you love is the best gift anyone can offer.

Rachel Macy Stafford

The choices that make a difference

My minimalist choices probably aren't going to make a dent in the consumerist frenzy that surrounds our modern Christmas, but that doesn't mean I'll just give up and go with the flow.  My choices will hopefully impact my family, if no one else.

But they'll also affect me.  When I wake up on Christmas morning, ready to implement my simple plans, appreciate my blessings, and celebrate with those I love, I'll be calm, rested, and relaxed.  And I'll have no reason to dread January's bills.

Those same choices can make a big difference for you too.  I hope you'll consider them.