Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated December 3, 2008
This might not be such a bright idea, to write about the flashing lights, twinkling lights, the brilliant, glowing and colorful lights of the Christmas season. Still, it’s early times to pull the plug on the idea. See, I’ve been wondering about the spirit of the season, why it’s said to be “the most wonderful time of year.”
As a youngster, I looked forward to the Yuletide, but mostly because of the gifts I knew I’d receive. Going to Mass, especially the midnight celebration, was part of my upbringing, and I can’t say that those times are not memorable. That became especially true one early morning when, during the stillness of the ceremony with all heads bowed, I opened my mouth to yawn -- and a bizarre hiccup emerged. It sounded like a dinosaur’s hunting shriek.
Then there was the night I kept asking Mom where Dad was. I had seen him headed next door with a large box, and wanted to see what he was up to. Mom told me sternly to not go next door “if I wanted to enjoy Christmas.” Well, that’s all I wanted to know: Now I was fairly certain that I was getting a bicycle because the friendly guy next door was handy with tools and assembling “stuff.” Dad was not. (And he passed it on to me).
With age comes some maturity (a bit, anyway, for me). So the enjoyment now is giving gifts, especially to our children and grandchildren.
And about those lights on Christmas trees and their reflections on decorative bulbs, which are big in my memory. Sometimes, my brother, Steve, and I would sit in the living room with only the tree lights on, basking in the colorful glow, while we wondered about the gifts under the tree. Dad never wondered, as he had no qualms about making holes in the bottoms of his gifts to see what he was getting. Really, he did.
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For Christians, the light of the world is Jesus, which is why Christmas is celebrated. As I continue to get older, something I cannot seem to avoid, the idea of His light dispelling the darkness seems lots more appealing. My continuing wish is that the spirit of sharing and caring, which emerges during Christmas, whether one is a Christian or not, will shine year-round. That way, we’d have “the most wonderful time of the year” every day. Whether we receive a bicycle or not.
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