We've been christmas free for 16 years now and I don't have garlic in my soul.
I would have to admit that some who abstain from christmas do appear to have garlic in their soul... but I don't think christmas has anything to do with it. That's just the way they are.
Christmas is no longer a part of our mindset. The other day a christmas commercialism commercial came on and I caught myself thinking... "Christmas isn't over yet?" The only time I even think about it is when I see the commercials or I try to go to the store and I have a DVR so I don't often see the commericals.
I went to Walmart last Saturday to look at the Kindle Fire (I ended up buying my wife a set of Better Homes & Gardens cookware... it's a good thing we don't do christmas or she would have had to wait for a few weeks.)
But... as I was saying... We went to Walmart and after making a few times of circling the parking lot I was thinking "Man... what is the deal with all these people here" and then I remembered... Oh yeah... Christmas isn't over yet.
Also... December 26th I get my usual contemporary Christian music back on the radio. I'm looking forward to that.
But... no garlic. I'm free. My family is free. It's like explaining to a smoker what it's like to be "free" from that cigarette. They don't want to be free and they roll their eyes at you. Or explaining to a man at the bar what it's like to be free from alcohol. They like it... they enjoy it... And so talk of "freedom" from what one enjoys is nonsensical.
When I first refrained from the holiday it was for reasons of doctrine and I'll have to admit that, after 32 years of participating it seemed a bit odd for a few years after that. My parents fought me tooth and nail on the issue. They even called a family meeting earmarked to "Save Christmas". It failed.
But my parents said a few years ago that now that they are free from it I couldn't drag them back kicking and screaming. You'd have to experience it to know what I'm talking about... But I'm happy to be where I am.
Honestly all we really do is not participate in the commercialism that everyone seems to say they don't like. I honor my Christ every day of the year. I see it as nonsensical to have issue with the commercialism and then turn around and participate in it.
I am thankful for my conviction. It is a part of my garlic free soul and it's something I appreciate and hold dear. As I've said before I don't ridicule or even think ill of those who do participate. This is my conviction. It is something God and I have worked out and we're good where we are. In the beginning of this conviction I had no idea of the freedom I would eventually feel when I see others participate in the madness. I wish everyone could be free... or at least feel what I'm talking about for a day or so. Then after understanding both sides they could make a choice on their own. But we're raised up with certain expectations that must be fulfilled. We conjure up the spirit with all the trappings in reaction to the expectations that have been drilled into our minds from birth so there really isn't much of a choice.
But... the only garlic in this house is in my wifes' cooking and she knows how to put it to good use. Even on December 25th.
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