Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Live in Peace Again

It's always a little odd, the day after Christmas.  We've just been through a long season expecting a day- then it comes and goes, and it's 364 more til the next one.

Thankfully, that's one less than we had to deal with last year.

There's much to be said with "living the spirit of Christmas the whole year through:"  Peace on Earth, goodwill toward all, not exactly ideals to put on for a day and throw out in January.

But if we were to really live Christmas the whole year through, we'd learn, as I think we do each year, to actually stop, as a society, and take a break, focusing on the things that matter.  That's what Christmas is, even for the non-observant and other-religious.  No matter what December 25th means, it's impossible to do anything on the day, so why not just enjoy it?

There's also something to be said for its semi-imperliastic omnipresence for the non-observing, but no matter your religious views, there's value in taking the day off and being with those you love (because even TV isn't great).

It's always hard too though, to cope with the dark parts of Christmas: not knowing what to make of those who don't have anyone and in reflecting on those who aren't here for the celebration this year (but were last year).  It's hard.  Christmas is more than just a day and celebration: it's a societal benchmark the ushers in a week of figuring out what to make of the past year, and how to move past it, always onward and upward.

I love Christmas and with that comes an acute love for Christmas music.  There's always a song that sticks out to me more than others, for one reason or another.  In a strange turn of events, it was actually "The Little Drummer Boy" this time around.  As I listened to and pondered it's seemingly inane message this year, it took on a new shade.  Instead of a contrived story about a kid with a drum who visits Jesus (though it's still that too), it's also a story about giving whatever you have, and how Jesus is pleased by that.  The boy could have done more than played his drum; he could have given him his drum or his furry vest- Jesus needed those about as much as he needed myrrh at the time too.  But it was the song, the rumpatumtum, that led to Mary and Jesus smiling.  This year, in what's generally seemed the most useless of Christmas songs, I found a level of relevance.  Whoever you are, whatever you have, whatever you can or can't do, do what fits you best.  It's simple, it's obvious.  But for 3 years, though I was directly serving in the Lord's cause, I was playing the drummer boy with a guitar in his hands.  Maybe he can make some notes.  But he's the drummer boy.  It's drumming he does best.  This year, the Little Drummer Boy taught me that it's far better to do the thing God created you to do, than to do something that looks better, but isn't yours to do.  For me, and I know it so very deeply, that means law school and beyond.

-Zack

"Peace on Earth, can it be? Years from now, perhaps we'll see"
-David Bowie