On My Mind: Seasonal Creep

Last July, I walked by the Hallmark store in the Eastwood Town Centre and noticed a bright red sign: 2024 Christmas Ornaments Available! It was almost enough to get me to boycott Hallmark. I don’t know when this seasonal creep began, but I’m pretty sure it’s not all Hallmark’s fault. In 2001, I remember rushing into Target to buy candy on October 30, and being shocked that the candy had been replaced with Christmas ornaments. Horrors!

I’m not the first person to decry the commercial expansion of the Christmas season, and I get it. People are just trying to make money. But this year, I’ve noticed that friends and neighbors have gotten into the Christmas spirit way too early. The house across the street from us is all decked out in lights, and I can see a Christmas tree through the window. In fact, I’ve seen many twinkling Christmas trees on my evening walks. Is this a new thing? Or have I never noticed that lots people put up their tree in November?

Now don’t get me wrong, anyone who visits my house on December 1st will find it fully decorated for Christmas. Yes, I love Christmas but I also love Advent.

Advent is a time of waiting, a time meant to mirror the centuries humanity waited for the coming of the Christ – the son of God, Prince of Peace. And while Christians believe that first time of waiting came to its promised conclusion with the birth of Jesus, we also believe that Christ will come again. So we are still waiting. The key to waiting is not to rush ahead.

There’s no way to avoid the seasonal creep of Christmas, but I hope you are able to carve out a little time in this busy season to slow down and ponder the beauty and power of Advent.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,/And with fear and trembling stand;

Ponder nothing earthly-minded,/For with blessing in His hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,/Our full homage to demand.

Peace,

             -Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe