One of my favorite holiday movies and a tradition in our house is National
Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In it Clark W. Griswald (Chevy Chase)
tries to create the perfect Christmas. It is about dreams. It is about
desires. It is about perfection. It is about control. It is about – Hell.
You see, Clark gets caught up in
the form of Christmas – how he thinks it should look. And so
he tries to create the perfect gift, the perfect meal, the best Christmas
lighting, the perfect family gathering. And along the way he forgets the content,
what the holidays mean.
Our family watches this movie every Thanksgiving because it is so funny and
in many ways so close to home. It reminds us to take ourselves a little
lighter, to not get so bogged down in how we think things should look as
opposed to the essence and the spirit that we desire. It reminds us that all
of our families at times can get on our nerves but can we open up our hearts
regardless.
It reminds us that this is a time
of love, but also a time of stress. When we look at the form of things,
everything does look different. There are different costs, different
sizes, different needs, different colors. We see different people, different
family members with different problems. And trying to meet all of these
different needs can drain even the most holiday inspired person.
What we have to remember is that
underneath, it is all the same.
There is a beautiful quote in A Course in Miracles
in the section entitled Christmas as the End to Sacrifice that can
lend some sanity to this situation:
Make
this year different by making it all the same.
And let all your relationships be made holy for you.
In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, let us not forget why we are doing
the things we are doing. Instead of worrying about the perfect gift, see
instead that you are honoring another spirit with your love.
And then remember that your love
is always perfect.
Treat each person differently by
treating all of them the same. Treat them as if they are the Christ. See
their essence instead of their flaws. See the love in them. This will help
you to see the love in yourself.
Treat each situation, in which
you are tempted to get upset, differently by treating them all the same. See
each as an opportunity to change your perception. Maybe you are asked to
expand your giving. Maybe you are asked to love somebody that you do not
want to love. Maybe you are asked to have more patience.
Be willing at that moment to stop
– to take a deep breath – and be willing to see the holiness in the
situation.
According to A Course in Miracles, the only reason we are here is to
remember who we really are and then to help others do the same. Jesus came
as an example of what is possible in each and every one of us. The lesson
was not limited to one isolated spirit 2,000 years ago, but pertains to you
and me. The birth of Christ symbolizes the birth (or reawakening) of the
innocent infant in each of us.
We are not limited beings, whose
only job is to buy that perfect gift or to serve that perfect holiday meal.
We are unlimited beings whose only purpose is simply to love. Our love is
already perfect. All we need do is love accordingly.
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