| Sunny Side Up Dec. 22, 2004 �2004, Kathleen Gibson Once upon a Jello Salad This morning spun off in futility as I mulled over how to conclude this series on turning Christmas upside down. It came to me as I ate lunch - leftover Jello Salad sent home with me from our eleventeenth Christmas potluck or so. Orange, with chunks of pineapple and cottage cheese. (Now, don't chide. I know Jello salad is a deplorable substitute for real food, but it's tasty and fills the empty spot. And some days there's not enough stuffing in me to both think and cook.) Anyway, the thing I heard interrupted me mid-pineapple. Sent me scurrying back to my computer to write this column. Our stereo played its grand finale some months ago, so I'd turned on Cable radio. 'Christmas music 24/7,' the station advertises, though I beg to differ. There's not much Christ in those songs - one could call them Christlessmas songs, in fact. Santa Claus is coming to town, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, Rockin' round the Christmas tree� you know the kind. Rather like Jello Salad compared to real food. Behind the sound of my molars mashing a pineapple chunk, I heard a surprising lyric fragment. I stopped chewing to listen. Embedded in a very un-Christmas-like melody were these words: Get down on your knees and pray, if only for one day, make it Christmas Day. Curious, thought I. Leaving my Jello salad, I made haste and came to the computer and searched the internet for the song which the radio had made known unto me. Here's what I found, as written and sung by Jann Arden on her album, Live with the Vancouver Symphony. Make it Christmas Day Many years ago on Christmas Day People came from all around to bow their heads and pray For on that lonely night a babe was born God gave us his only son that he may save the world And he taught us of compassion He taught us how to love He taught us to believe in God above. Let him know that you are still alive Raise your hands up to the sky Get down on your knees and pray If only for one day Make it Christmas Day Now we all await the coming eve I wonder if there is a single soul who still believes It's not the flashing glamour of the lights But onl y the remembrance of a distant holy night Jing Jing-a-ling Sing along Jing along Jing-a-ling-along Ding Dang Dong Yes, yes, I say. If you want to change your Christmas - your life - prayer is an essential factor. Talk to that God who sent Jesus - he's passionately in love with you. But don't do it for only one day. Don't settle for Christlessmas - enticing cultural leftovers. It's a spiritual Jello Salad that offers nothing for the real needs of your spirit, only empty promises to expand your empty spot. If you've been doing it that way for years, let me ask: Is it really working? Ding Dang Dong. Take Jesus along. You can respond to this column at [email protected] |
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