Putting on a game face for the Crazy Season

As I told someone the other day, I can feel myself getting my game face on to gear up for the height of the Crazy Season. The Crazy Season (a cultural phenomenon I defined for myself) began in late August when the holiday decorations started appearing in Wal-Mart, and ends right after the Super Bowl. I define it as a time of height-ened cultural expectation and cultural stress. The height of the Crazy Season (think of it as a Bell curve) begins roughly with Black Friday (so called because it marks the time of year when retail companies normally go into the “black” for the year), and the day after New Years. Of course, cultur-ally speaking, Christmas, and the preparations therefore and therefrom, mark the pinnacle of Crazy Season activities.

In the Church we try to battle against the Crazy Season, usu-ally without a lot of success.We offer the season of Advent, which is meant for reflection, repentance, and preparation for the birth of the Christ Child. We try to proclaim that God’s joy is in our midst to harried, flustered, and frustrated souls. We work at helping folks move from darkness to light. The culture doesn’t listen very well. And we participate in all of that; we can’t help but do so. The frantic preparations, in-creased social activities, heightened awarenesses and demands all play on our souls.

I really love Advent and Christmas, and in recent years have tried to observe the activi-ties with less franticness and more reflection. I’ve tried to distance myself from the cul-tural pressure, even though I feel such pressure every day. I’m trying this year to put on a game face that reflects laughter, and warmth, and God’s shalom even as I dash around a bit more than normal.

What are you planning to do and be in the midst of the Season?

I hope to see YOU on Sunday!

Bob