"Seasons Greetings"
It's a phrase that is plastered somewhere in every town in every state across the country.When the "Seasons Greetings" banners, signs, and window paint begin making themselves visible, we know that the Christmas season has unofficially begun. It is a phrase that, for one reason or another has seen itself as a flashpoint for critique, criticism, and debate. Some view the phrase as the tragic result of "political correctness" and a new assault during the "War on Christmas." Others understand these combination of words as an invitation for all people to enter into a season of joy, hope, wonder, and amazement. There has been plenty of conflict between these two camps in regards to these two little words. A quick perusal of social media will lead us to plenty of images proclaiming the poster's staked out position on this great debate. For so many, it is a matter of the utmost importance, I, personally find it ridiculous.
I never had given much (if any) thought to the phrase, that is, until last night...until the events in Ferguson unfolded before our eyes on national television. There was incredibly brutal irony to be found in the midst of the tragic violence that erupted after the Grand Jury announcement. Forget the rhetoric of "political correctness," and the silly debate on whether or not we have to say, "Merry Christmas," last night, an actual battle took place underneath the "Seasons Greetings" Banner that was strung across the street in downtown Ferguson. Powerful images, such as this one captured the sheer brokenness that unfolded underneath and around a phrase that is meant to usher in a season of hope, peace, joy, and love. it was a sad moment, and in the midst of everything else, all of the other questions that exist in and around the scenario that continues to unfold in Ferguson, I found my heart breaking. My heart broke for the family of Michael Brown, who, prior to the announcement, made a passionate plea for peace; my heart broke for the family of Darren Wilson; my heart broke for the police who were on riot duty last night, instead of preparing for Thanksgiving dinner; my heart broke for the protesters, both those who stood in peaceful solidarity and those who felt that they had no other recourse than to act out in violent ways; my heart broke for the shop owners whose livelihood was damaged or destroyed in the riots; my heart broke for the people of St. Louis; and I think, ultimately, my heart broke for all of us.
And it was in that moment, as I watched those events unfold underneath that "Seasons Greetings" banner, not even sure what I was supposed to be feeling or what questions I was supposed to be asking, that I started to understand Christmas a little more fully. Last night showed me, in a new way, why we desperately need Christmas and why Christmas matters. The events that unfolded in Ferguson were not unique, it happens every time where fear, suspicion, desperation and oppression (both real and perceived) meet power, authority, and the desire to maintain status quo. This has been one of the narratives of our history as a people, and it is most certainly the narrative into which Jesus was born. Brokenness and division is a real thing. It was real 2,000+ years ago when a young couple named Mary and Joseph brought into the world a baby named Jesus, and it is real today.
But the Good News is that it is into that brokenness that God decides to show up. Just as I believe with everything I have that God was present among the people of Israel, I believe just as strongly that God was present among the people of Ferguson and I believe that God is present anywhere and everywhere that pain, fear, and brokenness are present. This is the story of Christmas. Christmas is a reminder that we are not alone, and it is a promise that eventually, some how, some way, peace and love will overcome fear and violence.
But this victory does not and can not come about magically or by accident. Christmas requires direct participation from the brave and the fearful and from the oppressed and the ones doing the oppressing. Just as God desperately needed Mary and Joseph to participate in Christmas by bringing the light that was and is Jesus into the world, God desperately needs us to do likewise.
So how do we do it? How do we, even in the midst of the violence and chaos that engulfs our consciousness, commit ourselves to be bearers of light and hope into the world? it seems to me that it begins and ends with a shift in our mentality and our way of thinking. It requires a shift in how we see, understand, and interact with the world. To bear light means that we are willing to begin to take up the mantle of peace. Since the events in Ferguson began back in August, there has been lots of talk (perhaps justly, perhaps not) about the (de) militarization of our police forces. There have been questions why local police need some of the pieces of equipment that they currently possess, but not once have I heard a conversation about the (de) militarization of ourselves. We are a people who are pre-disposed to violence. We see this in our movies, our video games, our music, our clothing, and our children's cartoons. We discover this as we study our history and read classical works of literature, we are reminded of this when we hear of our beloved actors and sports heroes violently abusing their spouses, children, or other members of society, and we live this when we watch (or participate in) large scale altercations. Is it any wonder that our police forces have military-grade equipment when we have a military-grade worldview?
I don't have the answer, I don't know the magic word or possess the secret pill. But I do know that if we continue down this path of violence, it will be our undoing, and I do know that this is not the life we have been called to live. I do know that we are called to something bigger, better, and more faithful. I do know that we have been called down the path of peace.
Perhaps it will be this Christmas. Perhaps it will be when we wish each other, "Seasons Greetings," "Merry Christmas" or whatever pairing of words suits you. Perhaps it will be when we gather with our family and friends around the table of love. Perhaps peace will come when we commit to stop looking with suspicion, and start seeing the light of the Divine that shines within them. Perhaps peace will come when we chose to make it so if we can live into the vision of Isaiah who said that peace would come when the people "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."
Seasons Greetings.
