Anger at Christmas

[matthewm]

Christmas is a hard time for me, because to me, it makes all the injustices in our society so painfully and strikingly obvious. On the one hand, you have what has become an orgy of materialism and capitalistic excess, while on the other hand, in places like where I live, there are still homeless out in the cold who are ignored by passers-by, there are still children without fathers and crime-infested streets. Our celebration seems so appallingly selfish, almost as if we are using the “high” we get from the exchanging of material objects to numb us to the most painful realities. It’s a money-driven way to feel good about ourselves without actually doing any good. Christmas has become such a lie. It’s not a season of good-will, but a season of cash.

How can I wait in joyous hope for the Advent of Christ with such negative sentiments? I thought it would be enough to simply remove myself from any gift-giving/recieving this year, but the injustices won’t leave me alone. How can I enjoy what Christmas should be while despising what it has become?? It’s so hard for me to do…

 

[Rawb]

It sounds like you might want to not just refuse any material gifts, and refuse to give any material gifts, but you might want to give some spiritual ones.

When the mall is packed with shoppers who are angrily snatching this or that, say a prayer for them that they’ll find the real prize of Christ, or remember Him if they should already know Him, and have become too distracted.

Pray for the homeless and the fatherless, start a rosary especially for them. They can be Christ to us - so doing this for them is a true birthday present for Our Lord.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen to help the homeless. Donate bedding, soaps, shampoos, books, personal items, etc, to a Women’s shelter to help the Fatherless. Send Christmas cards, or visit, a prison to uplift the imprisoned.

I think that would give you the Christmas you’re after. Be the change you want to see in the world.

 

[Andruschak]

How can I wait in joyous hope for the Advent of Christ with such negative sentiments? I thought it would be enough to simply remove myself from any gift-giving/recieving this year, but the injustices won’t leave me alone. How can I enjoy what Christmas should be while despising what it has become?? It’s so hard for me to do…

Perhaps you might try to find some way of helping others during this time of the year. I’m lucky. As a member of AA, I help newcomers in their effort to get throught the holidays sober…

Our local Alano Club (a gathering place for AA meetings and fellowship between meetings) put on free Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day Dinners, paid for by voluntary contributions from members like me. Others buy the food, others cook it up, others bring side dishes.

Yes, there is a lot of injustice and inequality out there. But what we can do is try small acts of grace to make things better.

 

[uglygal]

I find Christmas a difficult season as well - it reminds me of how pitifully alone I am. But if you focus on yourself you will just be miserable. I pray more for the Holy Souls at this time especially those who are alone and abandoned (they have a special place in my heart) … i hear most of them get released on Christmas day

 

[puzzleannie]

How can I wait in joyous hope for the Advent of Christ with such negative sentiments? I thought it would be enough to simply remove myself from any gift-giving/recieving this year, but the injustices won’t leave me alone. How can I enjoy what Christmas should be while despising what it has become?? It’s so hard for me to do…

and you are doing what to remedy the injustice, immediately for those whom you encounter daily, remotely for those poor and friendless elsewhere in the world, immediately to remedy immediate needs, and systematically to address causes of injustice? the remedy for your emotional dilemma is to serve. Get up, stop talking, and start doing.

the remedy for those who are alone at Christmas?
Serve, find someone who needs you, needs a visit, needs a listening ear, needs some practical service and serve them.

the remedy for those who are grieving at Christmas?
Serve. Find someone else who is grieving, listen to their story of their loved one, and do something kind for them.

the remedy for those fed up with the antics of their family at Christmas?
Serve. Serve first your family members, esp. those you can’t stand, cheerfully, without grumbling, and with a valium if that’s what it takes, but serve.

Christmas has not “become” anything but what it always was, the celebration of God’s saving action in the Incarnation and birth of Christ. There is a parallel pagan celebration going on at this time of year, as there has always been, but it is not Christmas, in fact, the pagans have done us a service by severing the name of Christ from their idolatry of the god of consumerism, and I for one am happy that they stick with the general designation of “holiday” or “seasons” and don’t debase the name of my God.

 

[Biblioassistant]

It sounds like you want a heaven on earth. Sadly though, there will always be people who are poor, alone, fatherless, motherless, and there will always be injustice as long as there is sin the hearts of man.

I may not be able to change society, but I can make a difference in one person’s life. Just take it one step at a time, one person at a time.

 

[DJgang]

Be someone’s angel.

Do you know someone who needs help with childcare expenses? Go by the center a pay a week for them.

Do you know someone who just needs $20? Mail it to them, don’t sign the card.

Do you know someone who’s kids needs some gifts for Christmas? Buy something, drop it off on the front porch.

Bless people in your life with inspirational books. Buy not so materialistic gifts. Make your gifts if you cook, bake bread…

When I start finding myself in this mood…I listen to Christmas music…Amy Grant or something.

I think what hurts the most is that sometimes we just wish that we could do it all, take care of it all…but we can’t. So, we pray, give all this suffering to our Lord. Ask our Guardian Angel to keep your prayers going to Heaven.

Yes, it is hard.

 

[Shoshana]

and you are doing what to remedy the injustice, immediately for those whom you encounter daily, remotely for those poor and friendless elsewhere in the world, immediately to remedy immediate needs, and systematically to address causes of injustice? the remedy for your emotional dilemma is to serve. Get up, stop talking, and start doing.

the remedy for those who are alone at Christmas?
Serve, find someone who needs you, needs a visit, needs a listening ear, needs some practical service and serve them.

the remedy for those who are grieving at Christmas?
Serve. Find someone else who is grieving, listen to their story of their loved one, and do something kind for them.

the remedy for those fed up with the antics of their family at Christmas?
Serve. Serve first your family members, esp. those you can’t stand, cheerfully, without grumbling, and with a valium if that’s what it takes, but serve.

.

Have you got a Valium puzzleannie? I sure can relate to this…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Christmas is a hard time for me, because to me, it makes all the injustices in our society so painfully and strikingly obvious. On the one hand, you have what has become an orgy of materialism and capitalistic excess, while on the other hand, in places like where I live, there are still homeless out in the cold who are ignored by passers-by, there are still children without fathers and crime-infested streets. Our celebration seems so appallingly selfish, almost as if we are using the “high” we get from the exchanging of material objects to numb us to the most painful realities. It’s a money-driven way to feel good about ourselves without actually doing any good. Christmas has become such a lie. It’s not a season of good-will, but a season of cash.

How can I wait in joyous hope for the Advent of Christ with such negative sentiments? I thought it would be enough to simply remove myself from any gift-giving/recieving this year, but the injustices won’t leave me alone. How can I enjoy what Christmas should be while despising what it has become?? It’s so hard for me to do…

Those who have Christ in their heart, don’t have a problem with the outside activities of the world. In fact, they have compassion for people, who do not have the joy of Christ in their lives.

If you get angry, you’re no better than those who celebrate Christmas solely on a materialistic level.

Instead, you should see this as their level of poverty. It should move you to pray for them and help find the truth path of joy.

But, if you don’t have joy in your heart, how can you be of any good to them?

Jim

 

[TOP]

Christmas is a hard time for me, because to me, it makes all the injustices in our society so painfully and strikingly obvious. On the one hand, you have what has become an orgy of materialism and capitalistic excess, while on the other hand, in places like where I live, there are still homeless out in the cold who are ignored by passers-by, there are still children without fathers and crime-infested streets. Our celebration seems so appallingly selfish, almost as if we are using the “high” we get from the exchanging of material objects to numb us to the most painful realities. It’s a money-driven way to feel good about ourselves without actually doing any good. Christmas has become such a lie. It’s not a season of good-will, but a season of cash.

How can I wait in joyous hope for the Advent of Christ with such negative sentiments? I thought it would be enough to simply remove myself from any gift-giving/recieving this year, but the injustices won’t leave me alone. How can I enjoy what Christmas should be while despising what it has become?? It’s so hard for me to do…

I can relate to this in some ways. I went to my Oncologist the other day to find out the results of my now yearly CaTscan’s. Basically to find of if I would be dead from cancer in 6 months or not and got to talking to some survivors and patients in the waiting room. One guy is a 4 year survivor and we exchanged stories about our experience’s, almost bragging
like after a fishing trip. But it is nice to be able to talk about cancer like that now, not fearing it. But I notice a lady and her 19-20 y.o. son listening and even saying a few comments about the ER at the hospital. Her son seemed to be disinterested. When he (the son) went in to see the Dr., she opened up to us and told us that her son has Luekemia and had just received his first rounds of chemo. The chemo was too strong and burned his vains out through his skin, killed the nerves to his teeth, requiring them all to be pulled. He requires 6 day (name removed by moderator)atient treatments because the chemo is so strong. All I could do was tell her that her son is young and strong, reassure her that it gets better after treatment. She had no doubt in her face as we talked, sure that her son would survive this. When you are in a fight like that, there is no room for doubt. Whats my point of this. Well as a survivor, the holidays aren’t that big of a deal, even kind of annoying like you described. I’ll be thinking about that young man’s fight as well as others I’ve come across this Christmas rather then did my kids get enough junk under the tree this year. Maybe you should adjust your attention to some cause or charity as others have suggested. Maybe find out how many kids are in the oncology dept or burn unit at your local hospital, shell out a few dollars and donate some stuffed animals to them or get well cards. Let the rats keep on racing while you do your thing to better someones situation. Just some idea’s, Merry Christmas, Tim