Friday, December 11, 2020

“It Came without Packages, Boxes, or Bags!”

The ongoing pandemic this year gives us all a chance to understand that “maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”

By Eric Nederlof, Representative

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is one of the favourite modern Christmas tales for many children—and adults. It started as a Dr. Suess story and became a television cartoon classic musical.

Who doesn’t know the chorus, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch”?

The story has even been made into a couple of full-length feature films, with Jim Carrey playing the title role in one of them.

Well, it may seem now that many politicians, health leaders, and other influencing people around the world are auditioning for the part of the Grinch this season.

Whereas the Grinch took all the traditional Christmassy things and left the Whos to celebrate together, this year it’s tempting to think the opposite. These would-be Grinches are leaving all the presents, toys, and trimmings—but keeping people from getting together.

Unlike the Grinch, I don’t believe that our government and health leaders actually want to “keep Christmas from coming”—even if it may feel like that.

Their caution on gatherings is premised on the record of new infections across Canada, causing added strain to our healthcare system, particularly workers on the front lines, including many CLAC members.

We could lament the limitations the pandemic is imposing on our Christmas celebrations. But maybe curtailing our celebrations this year will give us all a chance to understand that, like the Grinch, “maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”

As the Grinch learned, Christmas “came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!”

This year, we might also say, “It came without choirs! It came without plays! It came without gatherings, concerts, or buffets!”

Christmas comes because Christmas already came. The circumstances surrounding how it comes can make it less enjoyable for us, and that does mean something. But if that prevents it from being Christmas for you, then it really isn’t Christmas you’re celebrating.

The first Christmas was without presents, feasts, and family. It was a poor, newly married couple having a brand new baby boy in an animal cave. Sure, a few strangers—shepherds—dropped by from the countryside, but it was a far cry from being a party.

No matter how you celebrate this Christmas time, whether it be with fewer or no parties, with fewer or no presents, with fewer or no special meals, with fewer or no extended family members and friends, you can still always celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

“It Came without Packages, Boxes, or Bags!”

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