Salutations dear reader. So thankful you took time out of your busy day to share a page’s worth of a moment. But before we conjoin our hands to give thanks together, let us take a brief but necessary…
Political Pause: On post-election day morning the results of the 2024 presidential election came into clarity with a cellphone opening to a Google newsfeed, “President candidate Kamala Harris has canceled her victory party.”
Hmmm… what to make of this breaking news? Two thoughts came to mind. #1 Guess Trump won. #2 Why’d she cancel the party? The guests are already in attendance, the champagne can’t be returned, nor the caterer’s retainer fee be reimbursed, so why not party on dude?
Because you lost? Sometimes that’s the best reason to have a party. It’s yours so you can cry if you want to. Or maybe change the theme to a congratulatory party for the winner, that’d been mighty big of you. Or just celebrate America and elections end. Because it is over and you’re all Americans, so we should all be excellent to one another… right? Anywho, in the same respect of shaking hands at a little league ballgames end (think about that), congratulations to Donald Trump, 45th and now 47th president of the United States.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled column. Already in progress at this time…
Last week we stated the obvious. That the ever-growing juggernaut known as Christmas continues to spread like a festive disease. Overshadowing its predecessors. Coalescing with All Hallows and all but obliterating the time of Thanks.
There’s a profound irony to be found when one considers the latter. But before we get too ironic (don’t ya think), let’s remember what we’re here for. To thwart the X-mas spirit, from possessing our souls, before the turkeys been carved.
So come on over to the table. Cop a squat. Let us join hands. Now we’ll go round the table with a pause per person. Each verbalizing something they’re thankful for.
This round-the-table ritual of thanks has become somewhat of an annual tradition in many a household. As family and friends gather for a meal during the holiday season. But one must ponder… during these thankful proceedings, does anyone take pause to consider to whom the thanks is being given?
Traditionally speaking, denomination pending and religious preference irrelevant, it would be the Christian God. Because at the core, despite whatever doors you grace on Sunday (or Saturday) morning, it’s basically the same, the same guy… girl… god… concept?
In that respect, do Satanist give thanks to Lucifer before sacrificing the holiday virgin or turkey? Actually, I’ve always thought that they’re more of a candied ham bunch. And what about Atheist? Do they gather round the table, join hands, say- “Thanks for nothing!” and dig in?
Dismissing disbelief, when and if one decides to give thanks, is a recipient required? In order to truly be thankful for something, is there truly a need for someone to be thankful to? Or has thankfulness become a throwaway expression? The other “magic-word” that disappears (like magic) the moment it is uttered?… without waiting for a welcome.
Cultist and nonbelievers aside, let’s say those (especially those of the Christian persuasion) who do gather to give thanks, are giving it to God. Taking a moment to appreciate all the things they believe he has done for them throughout the fiscal year. It is in this that that aforementioned irony comes into play.
According to Christian belief, Christmas is supposed to be a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. (it’s more like September, but for the sake of argument…) Coincidentally he’s the son of that guy you’re supposed to be giving thanks to a month prior. And yet the commercialism and secular pleasures of the X-mas season seem to override and consume that need for thankfulness. See what we did there- took the “Christ” right out of it!
We’ve become consumed with consumption. Give us costumes and candies, give us bright lights and big inflatable things, give us presents, Black Fridays and football. With nary a sincerely humbled pause to be openly grateful to anyone or anything, for any of it.
So, let’s not pretend that X is an offensive error. Because if you’re not thankful he’s there, how can he be? I welcome almost all questions, comments via Focus, or E-mail me at [email protected]. Hope to hear from ya, until then try and stay focused! See ya.
