“I” or “Y”

The Christmas Season has begun.   Yesterday, Black Friday, we shopped.   Santa is coming!!!  Tomorrow, the First Sunday of Advent, churches of all denominations prepare.   Emmanuel is coming!!!

     A dilemma remains.   Is this solely a holiday season or “soul”y a Holyday season???

     Holiday versus Holyday — what distinguishes the choice?   The answer is found by examining the center — both the center of each word and the center of our hearts.

     Holiday — its center is “I”.

     Holyday — its center is “Y”.

No other difference distinguishes the two.   However, this slight outer variance hugely determines the vast, essence defining disparity between the two.  

     “I” centers in the declaration of worldly me as the center of the season. 

     “Y” centers in the explanation of Heaven’s originating whY, or reason, for the season.

     “I” — endless strings of blinking lights spotlighting gatherings centered in the giving and celebrating of the material.       

     “Y” — one solo star pointing the way to a new born Baby, so poor He was birthed in a lonely stable; yet, so inheritably giving that His coming bestowed on us the greatest gifts of all – forgiveness and salvation.

     Are “I” and “Y” meant to exclude the other?   Don’t think so.   Think heaven rings with joy as Santa shares his bag and people come together to celebrate as family.   Nevertheless, think heaven cries tender, grateful tears when both the young and old unwrap, and center in, the true meaning of the CHRISTmas celebration.

     In each of our lives, does the meaning between “I” and “Y” have and “equal” or a “greater than” sign between each other?   Herein, lies the defining meaning of our CHRISTmas Season.   If we choose an “equal” sign, not just our spelling, but also, our focus is holiday.   If we choose to place the Child in the manger on the wide-open side of the “greater than” sign, then both our spelling and our inner core is holyday.

     Malls around the world ring out with strains of “Here comes Santa Claus”.   Churches around the universe cry out with choruses of “O come, O Come, Emmanuel”.   One’s center is “I”.   The other’s center is “Y”.   Where you place your center determines holiday or holyday as both the spelling and meaning of this celebration in your life. 

     God bless, guard and guide us all.