Takin' the Blog for a Walk

hint: you won't find it at the mall

Posted by Brien Lee on Dec. 22, 2009

let us pray, St. Vincent, St. William, helping, Carroll, 8) my favorite things, 1) sound of music, 7) I simply remember

Been searching for the true meaning of Christmas.

I didn't even want to do Christmas this year because of the expense / economy, but as a family man I found out the hard way that that's not even an option. So we borrowed and went to Walmart. That's going to make some temporarily happy, but what about me? I don't think I'll ever find Christmas at Walmart.

I've been hard at the search. I opened my mind, and my ears, to 14 hours straight of Christmas music on a Saturday counting inventory at work. It may have worked for me too if only WMYX would have thrown a bunch of new songs into The Mix. Doesn't matter how good the songs are if they're overplayed every hour.

I sat in the front row for Christmas a Carroll and enjoyed the heck out of it. Hope to attend another Christmas concert Christmas Eve at St. William, 9:30 p.m..

I've been helping the less fortunate by taking food, gifts and furniture through St. Vincent de Paul. Helped a single mother of two move yesterday and plan to ring the Salvation Army bell tomorrow. If nothing else, it will help me feel more fortunate by helping the less fortunate.

I made an unannounced visit to relatives I hadn't seen in a while. It was not only good to see them and catch up, but my visit also left the door open to more visits in the future: I borrowed the movie UP, which I was dying to see since first hearing about it, and which I had later to return.

Even though I'd been to Bethlehem Marketplace at Elmbrook Church before, I felt my Christmas spirit still needed a shot in the arm, so I went again. For only three dollars I received three shekels and forty minutes in year one. Not only observing how things were done back then, but touching, smelling and doing. Fellow "travelers" going through with me crafted things, made purchases, pressed olives, wrote on papyrus, learned about oil lamps, danced, yelled at the guards... but when I was asked if I'd like to attend Synagogue, I politely declined. "Maybe another time. I just don't have time right now."

I'm glad I was later asked by the "Rabbi" before I could sneak out. "It will only be five minutes." I was first to sit down and thought it may be a while. A couple more guys trickled in and we sat together on one side. Women and children started to fill the other side, but only men were allowed the prayer sheets. Women and children soon outnumbered us 6 or 7 to one, but we had the sheets. After the service started I soon noticed the enthusiastic prayer responses of my fellow men. I threw myself into it too. Pretty soon it became a little friendly competition: our four male voices against their 20-odd women and children voices. It was funny, because the one thing I wanted to pass up was easily the best thing I did in Bethlehem that day. 

It was just a stage set, but I felt we really were praising God. I sat beside people of different religions with a common purpose. No one would pay to go through Bethlehem Marketplace if they didn't believe, at least a little, in the Christmas Miracle. Nobody was kidding around, not even the kids, and by the end of the service I felt a bond with the others and wanting more...  I know a few probably felt the same way. 

I surprised the family with my Christmas gift yesterday. It's something I planned over a year ago. I'm off work for the next two weeks. That's it. No big vacation, just spending time with the wife and kids while the kids are off school. It's already off to a good start.

Merry Christmas!