Getting to the heart of holidays

The most important thing to remember during the holidays or a holy

day is to remember why that day is commemorated.

Religious or national holidays were not meant as an opportunity

for a longer weekend or an opportunity to relax from life’s demands,

but rather, they are times of reflection, tradition and thankfulness.

The promotion of good will and remembrance of loved ones with gifts

is an honorable tradition but within moderation and sincerity.

On holy days, the most honorable act is found in understanding the

principle cause of the day, to seek out its spiritual message and to

maintain its tradition rightfully.

IMAM SAYED MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center of

Orange County

Costa Mesa

Especially at this time of year, I think, we all desire light and

warmth and the company of beloveds. Around town we see lights on

homes and trees and boats, warm decorations on people and places and

cars, and we do our very best to be with friends and family.

Christians follow the light of God’s star, rejoice that God’s fire

turns our sins into ashes, and retell the sacred story of the holy

family with beloveds. I believe we all want the same gifts -- gifts

of love -- especially that love that Christians believe is both our

source and our goal.

Our congregation knows that all this is well represented for me in

Santa Claus. Some think he is an invention of the Protestant ethic

and spirit of capitalism, but Santa Claus is really the contemporary

successor of St. Nicholas, a fourth-century Bishop of Myra famed for

his kindnesses to children, brought to our country by Dutch

colonists.

Many people see him only as a seasonal purveyor of plastic toys

and commercial success. With eyes of faith, I see Santa as a

representation of God: the bearer of gifts throughout creation for

all persons, one who slips into the secrets of our hearts as easily

as he slides down our chimneys (“You’d better watch out, you-know-who

is ... “), and turning motley crews of cantankerous critters

(reindeer and ... ) into teams while converting liabilities -- like

huge, ugly, red noses -- into assets for delivery of wonderful

presents.

I believe those who cannot see God in that merry ol’ Claus, with

his crazy beard and rumpled suit, wishing everyone a merry Christmas

will have greater difficulty finding God born in a food trough for

livestock in the dead of night as a vulnerable baby.

I think they and I yearn for the same gift: the love of all times

and places, among us here and now.

THE VERY REV.

CANON PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All

Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

I am sure that at some point in the shop-till-you-drop frenzy that

characterizes this time of year, we all pause and reflect on the

deeper meaning of the festivals we are celebrating.

We know them to be opportunities for sharing warm, joyous times

with friends and family, for expressing love and appreciation, for

observing rich and time-honored traditions. Amid the seasonal

madness, we consider the spiritual depth of these holy days.

We refuse to surrender to a culture of avarice and acquisition and

hold fast to piety, simplicity and the spirit of sacrifice. We will

not allow our respective observances to be homogenized into a

catchall “holiday season,” but rather uphold the integrity of each.

Above all, at this darkest time of the year, we emphasize lights,

the light of faith in God and trust in tomorrow.

One candle can light many candles and yet the light of the

original candle is not diminished thereby. This is the special

property of the light of goodness. Shakespeare’s Portia said it well:

“How far a little candle throws its beams. So shines a good deed in a

naughty world.” The good deed is never lost and darkness cannot

prevail over its radiance.

Robert Louis Stevenson was frail as a child and often had to stay

in his room for long periods. As evening approached, he would press

his face against the windowpane and watch the lamplighter light gas

lamps on the street below.

One night his nurse asked: “What are you doing?”

He answered: “I am watching the man knocking holes in the

darkness.”

There is much darkness in our world, the darkness of prejudice,

apathy, misunderstanding, ignorance, poverty, oppression, illiteracy,

disease, war and tyranny. Our task is like that of the lamplighter,

to knock holes in the darkness and through our lives introduce the

light of tolerance, understanding, and love into the society of which

we are a part.

The true spirit of our celebrations, one we never lose sight of

despite the materialism that does its utmost to seduce us, was

captured long ago by a Rabbi of the Talmud: “May it be thy will, O

Lord our God, to place us on the side of light.”

To that prayer, people of all faiths can respond, “Amen.”

RABBI MARK S. MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

The very fact that we call them “holidays” now instead of the

original “holy days” is an answer to that question.

Today, “holiday” means day off, not day of reverence and respect.

What do you think of when you hear about Memorial Day? If you are

like most Americans, you think of summer, barbecues and friends. If

you are in the military, you know the day is set aside to remember

those who died for our freedoms. Most people (me included) have no

idea what Labor Day is about.

Easter is now about bunnies, colored eggs and new dresses.

Thanksgiving is now about turkey dinner, food and shopping for “the

holidays.” Christmas is now about getting presents and Santa Claus.

Wow, are we lost!

In order to separate the commercialism and the toys from the holy

day when we remember the birth of Jesus, my family has reverted to

some ancient church traditions borrowed from Europe. The real St.

Nicholas was a godly young man who gave away his riches to people in

need during the fourth century.

He soon became the leader of the church in a region of what is now

Turkey. He protested the persecution of Christians under the Roman

emperor Diocletian and was imprisoned for it. Nicholas is most well

known for his help of a poor neighbor who needed money in order for

his daughters to get married. Nicholas sneaked into their house at

night and put gold in the stockings hung to dry by the fireplace.

For hundreds of years, Christ-followers have celebrated his gift

giving by giving gifts, especially to the poor. Martin Luther didn’t

like the idea of celebrating saints and replaced Nicholas with the

Christ child, or “Krist Kindl” in German.

When the Dutch settled Manhattan, they brought St. Nicholas or

Sancte Klaus with them. The Krist Kindl came with the German

immigrants. The diverse celebrations were brought together for the

celebration of Christmas in the last hundred years. Sancte Klaus and

Krist Kindl merged into Santa Claus and Kris Kringle.

Illustrator Robert Nast, who gave us the donkey and elephant icons

for the Democratic and Republican parties, also designed an American

version of Santa Claus.

Nast moved away from Saint Nicholas’ traditional red church robes

to the elvish outfit we see today. Combined with “‘Twas the Night

Before Christmas” and Coca Cola’s 1930s marketing campaign, the image

of Santa Claus morphed into the global phenomenon we see today. These

poets and artists added reindeer, the North Pole, chimneys and much

more to the story. They subtracted, however, his humble religious

roots.

My family has gone back to giving gifts on Dec. 6, like many

countries still do in Europe. We get our shopping done before

Thanksgiving and avoid the chaos in the malls.

It allows us to spend the weeks before the 25th attending

Christmas parties, concerts, worship services, and spending time with

family and neighbors.

It also separates the gifts from the “holy day” of worship in the

minds of our children.

My 4-year-old daughter is now telling her friends about what she

has received for St. Nicholas day rather than for Christmas. We

celebrate Nicholas as a man who had compassion for those in need and

pointed people to his savior, Jesus. He would be disturbed if he knew

his “holiday” had overshadowed the “holy day” of remembering Christ’s

birth.

We have to be intentional. Any day can lose its meaning if we are

not intentional in remembering it and pass on its meaning to our

children.

God knew this and often told his people to set up “memorial

stones” in their lives so that when their children asked their

purpose, they could point them to God’s faithfulness.

Christmas can be a memorial stone of God’s faithfulness to us of

his sending his son to die for us, or it can be about getting

presents. It’s up to us. Merry Christ-mas, everyone. I hope it is

holy for you.

PASTOR RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity Baptist Church

Costa Mesa

Are we at peace with ourselves and others? Do we appreciate our

lives, even in the midst of our problems? What is essential to me,

and what pruning will be necessary? These reflections are appropriate

any time, but they are underscored during the holiday season,

regardless of one’s religious tradition.

Responsibilities from Thanksgiving Day to the first work day after

New Year’s can seem like taking on a part time job: 20 hours per week

devoted to putting up decorations, to shopping, to cards, to

wrapping, to cooking, to parties, to volunteer work, to returns, to

donations as well as to special events, including religious services

and programs.

In Zen the key is to be aware: Am I rushing through things, trying

to get them done, with a subtle or not-so-subtle underlying attitude

of resentment or victimization, or am I present to the authentic

rhythm of life, open to the possibilities of each moment?

Have I set myself up for disappointment, frustration or am I upset

when people and events do not live up to my expectations? Am I

satisfied to simply take my humble place in situations and allow

things to unfold as they will -- mysteriously, beyond understanding

and certainly beyond my control.

I observe Thanksgiving Day, Bodhi Day and New Year’s Eve. During

this time, our talks and discussions at the Zen Center turn to

subjects such as the “Zen of Spending” -- consumerism, conspicuous

consumption, globalization, charitable contributions and overall

awareness of the motivations and effects of our expenditures.

Other themes incorporate some of the universal wisdom found in

other religious traditions, especially Dia de los Muertos, Hanukkah

and Christmas.

Thanksgiving Day is a tradition compatible with Zen. The

importance of allowing gratitude to emerge cannot be underestimated.

Our ego likes to believe that the good things in life are due to

our own efforts and special gifts. Recognizing our indebtedness to

others and our interconnectedness is an essential aspect of spiritual

maturity. Appreciating our lives as a treasure is at the heart of Zen

practice.

Bodhi Day is not well-known in the United States. This day

commemorates the Buddha’s awakening and it is celebrated by Buddhists

around the world on Dec. 8 each year. At Zen centers, this day is the

culmination of a meditation retreat which traditionally begins on

Dec. 1. We do not worship the Buddha: We are challenged to walk the

same path and to wake up to our true nature, just as he did.

I have come to relish this way of participating in the holiday

season of our culture, this extended time for silent meditation with

a community of Zen practitioners.

Our New Year’s celebration begins with meditation in the evening.

We welcome the New Year while in zazen -- seated meditation. The

crescendo of taiko drumming signals it is midnight. Our next activity

of the new year, after meditation, is a liturgical service which

includes the chanting of the “Heart Sutra” and “Identity of Relative

and Absolute,” two key sutras in the Mahayana Zen Buddhist tradition.

We offer incense and dedications for our practice, our families

and the world. This is followed by a potluck.

This is our 10th year of New Year’s Eve sitting, and I feel there

is no better way to begin the year.

THE REV.

DR. DEBORAH BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa