Recently a friend sent me an email describing the weather in the U.S. right now. She then asked me this question.
"I wonder what it is like in your part of the world and what Christmas feels like with no frost in the air?"
It was a good question. I had actually been thinking about this last week, especially as we were down at the beach for some vacation. It was a little odd to start December without the usual cool weather. In fact, it is summer here. Obviously it was hotter and more humid at the beach, but even Nairobi is warm; most days it is sunny with highs in the low 80's. It is wonderful. But at the same time, it is a little sad not to have a cool nip in the air. Listening to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" is a little odd and even sad.
It is also different, pleasantly so not to have such a commercialization of Christmas. Certainly there are some shopping centers that have Christmas lights and decorations which is actually pleasing to the eyes, but there is not an overt and obnoxious marketing and selling of Christmas. And, there is not any wrangling here in government over whether a Christmas tree should be called a Christmas tree or a Holiday tree. And, best of all there is no ACLU threatening to sue someone over say "Christmas."
So, in short, there are not the usual sensory clues to alert us to the fact that Christmas is in two weeks. However, Marti has done a wonderful job of decorating the house with Christmas decorations. We also put up our Christmas tree Saturday. And, so with Christmas CD's playing and Yankee Candles burning with "Christmas scents" we at least get a taste of Christmas at home.
The upshot to all this is that it does allow us to look at Scripture a bit more clearly and appreciate the fact that Christmas is not about all the decorations, gifts, and parties, but about God intervening in history in a miraculous way. And that is a wonderful blessing. So, don't feel "too sorry" for us this Christmas - we are enjoying the real blessings of this time of year that is easier because of not having all the usual signs and clues that this is Christmas.
Christmas time as always been a warm time for me. Having grown up in Singapore and now living Down Under.
It's funny how much of Christmas is centred around snow and the cold. While discussing plans for our church's Christmas drama, a team member suggested costuming the actors with scarves and mittens so that it would look "authentic". I don't think he's ever spent a white Christmas either. So I don't know where that "authenticity" comes from!
Posted by: marianne | December 12, 2005 at 11:08 AM