A couple days ago we had our first snowfall here in Kenosha. My buddy Nate celebrated his post-workout, and the new snow by blasting Christmas music on his floor. It is only November, and just two weeks ago it was Halloween, but the snow had Nate feeling jolly. And this brings up a good question: how early is too early for Christmas music? When can you get the green-light to put up your Christmas lights and start celebrating the Christmas season?
A few years ago in the middle of the summer I was biking and listening to what is now one of my two all-time favorite bands, Relient K. I was listening through a playlist of their songs, and at the time I wasn't quite the fan I am now. Anyway, as I was listening to the playlist, a Christmas song called "I Celebrate the Day" popped up. I had never heard it before, and normally if a Christmas song came up on shuffle and it wasn't Christmas season, I wouldn't hesitate to skip it. But there was something about this song. The lyrics really hit me. Before you continue reading this blog, listen to the song:
Perhaps the lyrics that had me think the most were the following:
"To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That You were born so I might (really) live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life"
After I heard this song for the first time in the middle of August, I listened to it again and again. A few days later I probably had the song memorized. There was something about this song that really had me thinking.
When it comes to Christmas music, what are the first things that come to mind? I think for a lot of people, it's Christmas trees, snow, and Christmas carols we sing the last few weeks of the year at church.
Now I don't want to rip on the Christian Christmas songs that there are. Many of them are beautiful, and I love singing them. But what I guess I'm trying to say is that they can become kind of routine. We might listen to the songs and just not think much about what they're really about.
Well this song hit me hard with it's inventiveness and creativity. It really reminded me of why we celebrate the holiday in the first place: it's the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus, who came to this world to be spit on, mocked, beaten, bruised, and eventually crucified. Christmas is about celebrating his entrance in to this sick, twisted and cruel world to pay for our sins, so that we could be made new and given new life.
That's a pretty sweet thing to celebrate if you ask me. But should we limit our celebrating of the greatest story ever told to just a season, and a weekend in the spring? The answer is no. You see Jesus died for us. He literally died for us. He offered us new life and along with that, peace and joy. We should be fired up and celebrating that every day of our lives. And when we take down our trees, our lights, and our advent calendars, let's not move Jesus out with them.
So as for Christmas music, go ahead and listen to it whenever. Celebrate as you feel you should celebrate. Maybe that means for you listening to your favorite holiday album in October. Or maybe it means waiting until December. Whatever it is, just enjoy it. Celebrate. Because God is good and his love never ends. As for myself? 'Tis the season.
Side note 1: Check out this other great Christmas song/lyrics!
"We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind
Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
But here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more"
Side note 2: Best Christmas album? Relient K's Let It Snow Baby and Let It Reindeer!
