ERIC BUTTERWORTH PAPERS (3014)
BOX 10 FOLDER 36
A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
DECEMBER 21.1975
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'A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION' tier
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I1!EtuS^IdAND,?0^S AND SMELL OF CHRISTMAS ARE IN THE AIR. T S A MAGIC TIME THE SINGING
OF CAROLS. THE TRIMMING OF THE TRK THE CANDLE--
LIGHT AND TINSEL. THE SPRIGS OF MI StLETOE THE
LIGHTS AT RADIO tlTY. THE SANTA CLAUSES RINGING
THEIR LITTLE BELLS oft STREET CORNERS AND,
CHRISTMAS CRECHES EVERYWHERE, RETELLiNG THE
STORY OF JOSEPH AND MARY AND THE STABLE OF THE
IMS OF BETHLEHEM WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NO ROOM
ofDtheEe*[SE MEN and shepherds---and the STAR "
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PURE MAGIC...BUT LIKE ALL MAGIC THERE IS ILLUSION
mav HEIGHT OF HAND INVOLVED. FOR THE MISTLETOE MAY BE PLASTIC...SYMBOLIZING THE GIANT FACADE OF CHR4STMAS THAT HAS BEEN PUT UP LIKE A HOLLYWOOt
thPannua^charade^^ ano slavishly 60 THR0UGH
THE SONG SINGS. 'PUT ON L h<ppv FACE ’ AND THF SUGGESTION IS l®IADt"l6 IUkfV^THt'cOKRtfts OF THF MOUTH UP IN A SMILE, AND MAKE YOUR EYES SPARKLE
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IJ_IS TRUE THAT ONE BEGINS TO FEEL HAPPY IF HE HAPPY...AND THAT, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE MO-TIONS YOU TEND TO EXPERIENCE THE CORRESPONDING EMOTIONS. BUT...SOMETIMES BEHIND THE FACE OF THE «|^*IXWKKKXKfXIMXIRA8_ CLOWN MAY BE THE™E
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MIND YOU I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS, AND I NEVER FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ERECT THE fACADE YEAR AFTER YEAR. OR TO ENGAGE IN THE CHARADE. BUT THE REASfiN IT COMES EASY IS THAT I REMIND MYSELF THAT IT IS A FACABE...A GAME WE PLAY...WITH A BEAUTIFUL INNER MEANING...BUT PUTTING UP THE TREE DOES NOT FULFILL THE MEANING... IT IS LIKE UNCOVERING THE ROAD MARKER.‘I. IT IS NOT AN END, BUT A POINTER SUGGESTING A JOURNEY.
IF THE CHIEF REASON FOR DOING WHAT WE DO AT CHRISTMAS IS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT...THEN THE 'ALWAYS' IS VERITABLY IMPRINTED ON THE BAUBLES AND DECORATIONS AND COLORFUL PARAPHERNALIA THAT WE CAREFULLY PACK AWAY IN DUSTY ATTICS TO BE RETRIEVED EACH SUCCEEDING SEASON AS WE DUTIFULLY AND SOMETIMES WEARILY SUCCUMB TO THE ANNUAL FEVER.
ONE MAY FEEL THAT IT IS A MATTER OF BEING TO A TIME-HONORFD TPflftlTinH ALMOET AS IF I L	EftJ.	^'STQRIC	^O’ OF RELIGION.
BUT DID	KNOW THAT TTTE OBSERVANCE OF CHRIST-
MAS AS A HOLIDAY WAS NOT ESTABLISHED IN AMERICA UNTIL THE LAST HALF OF THE 19TH OFNTIIRY?
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE EARLY PILGRIMS NOT ONLY FROWNED UPON A SEASON OF 'MAKING MERRY’ BUT THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW. IN 1RK9 THF nm omy nr . PASSFD A I AU THAT READ .^WHOSOEVER SHACL BE ID OBSERVING ANY SUCH DAY AS CHRISTMAS EITHER BY FORBEARING OF LABOR, FEASTING. OR IN ANY OTHER WAY, SHALL BE FINED FI0E SHILLINGS.’
FOR MANY YEARS PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO WORK ON CHRISTMAS EITHER WENT TO JAIL OR PAID FINES.
AJjfi. LOOK AT US NOW!
ASK
AND
QUESTION, 'WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN?' AVERAGE PERSON. IF HE CAN GET OUT OF THE
MIGHT SAY, CHRISTMAS IS
ONE THING DECEMBER 25TH PROBABLY IS NOT...IS THE DAY JESUS WAS BORN. THERE IS NO HISfORY OF
I^rF^y.,klfKEJIsus---0NLY A VAKIETY OF CONFLICTING LEGENDS. THE DATE, DEC. 25TH, WAS
^«BTurAeihYJ£I.iy * NOW OBSCURE CHURCH HISTORIAN IN THE 6TH CENTURY AD. AND WITHOUT ANY QUESTION THIS DATE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE ROMAN FEAST OF SATURNALIA WHICH OCCURRED AT THIS TIME.
EVERY YEAR WE HEAR THE
Co GHRISr A PLASTER-OF OR A PAINFUL FIGURE ON
SLOGAN, 1 AND WHAT PARIS BABE A CROSS?
IN A CRECHE
• •
IT IS SAID THAT CHRISTMAS IS TOO COMMERCIAL... BUT COMMERCIALISM IS NOT WHAT IS WRONG WITH CHRISTMAS. IT IS STILL COMMERCE WHETHER IT IS THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF BIBLES OR ALTARS OR CRUCIFIXES OR CRECHES...OR ITEMS FOR GIFT-
t!nKERTOYSE WATCHES 0R NECK-TIES OR SCARVES OR
THE PROBLEM WITH CHRISTMAS IS NOT MATERIALISM... BUT A FALSE SPIRITUAL INVOLVEMENT. THE THREE WISE.MEN. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM, AND THE BABE IN THE MANGER, THE MYSTERY AND tHE MIRACLE... THESE MAKE IT TEMPTING AND EASY FOR US TO FORGET WHAT THE WHOLE THING IS ABOUT. FOR THEY DEAL WITH SOMETHING OF ANOTHER DAY AND ANOTHER WORLD THAT IS TOTALLY IRELEVENT TO OURS.
AND WE CAN ENGAGE IN IT. USE THE THEME FOR DECORATIONS, SING THE CAROLS, DRZMATIZE THE STORIES,
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PASTE IT AS A FACADE OVER OUR EVERYDAY LIVES... AND NOT REALLY GET INVOLVED IN IT.
THE WHOLE STORY OF THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM ON THAT NIGHT OF NIGHTS HAS BEEN SENTIMFNDAL I7FD...AND THUS MADE UNREAL. LIKE A MOvl“ THAT BE WATCH FOR AN HOUR...HAVE A GOOD CRY OVER...AND THEN GO OUT INTO LIVES OF DRABNESS AND ROUTINENESS... NOT THE LEAST BIT CHANGED BY THE EXPERIENCE.
WE DON’T KNOW WHEN JESUS WAS BORN...OR REALLY VERY MUCH ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES..AND WHEN WE UNDERSTAND HIS MISSION, IT IS NOT REALLY THAT
important.	”u-
DIVINITY. AND TO SHOW IN HIS OVERCOMING THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE ’I AM’ REACHING ITS ffi FULL [PERSONAL EXPRESSION IN MAN. ** n
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THUS THE GREAT EVENT IN THE LIFE OF JESUS WAS MOT, HIS. BIRTH. BUT THE AWAKENING THAT TOOK PLACE WITHIN HIM DURING THE YEARS OF HIS GROWTH...THE DISCOVERY OF THE DIVINE DIMENSION IN MAN.
CHRISTMAS THEN SHOULD CELEBRATE THE DIVINE DIMEN SION IN MAN...LOOKING TO HIS DEMONSTRATION...BUT COMMITTING ONESELF TO A PERSONAL MANIFESTATION. AND AS THE POET SINGS:
'THOUGH CHRIST A THOUSAND TIMES IN BETHLEHEM BE BORN.
IF IE'S NOT BORN IN THEE, THY SOUL IS ALL FORLORN.’
Ci^r^	—5	—
THUS, THOUGH THE LEGENDS AND PROPHECY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT DEALT WITH THE HOPE OF A MESSIAH TO COME... IT WAS ERRONEOUSLY THOUGHT THAT THIS HOPE WAS FULFILLED IN JESUS...RATHER THAN BEING REVEALED THROUGH HIM. THE TRUE HOPE WAS NOT JESUS. BUT THE CHRIST SPIRIT THAT HE REVEALED IN HIMSELF AND FORETOLD AS BEING IIN ALL PERSONS.
SO CHRISTMAS BEGINS IN PROPHECY... AND CARRIES THROUGH THE MANGER OF BETHLEHEM...BUT IT IS NOT FINISHED THERE. IT IS AN UNFINISHED STORY THAT MUST BE RESOLVED INTO COMPLETION BY AN EXPERIENCE WITHIN EVERY PERSON.
CHRISTMAS THEN IS A TRUE CELEBRATION OF THF
THE EXPRESSION OF THE VERY HIGHEST
_______IS THAT MAN IS CAPABLE OF REALIZING.
THE CELEBRATION MUST ENTAIL THE EMULATION OF JESUS AND THE APPLICATION OF HIS MESSAGE... WHICH, IN ESSENCE. SAYS: 'IF ANYONE SAYS.
'I LOVE GOD,' AND HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A
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SO IT IS NOT THE MERCHANTS WHO ARE TO BLAME FOR ANY SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS...
IT IS THE 'BELIEVERS' THE 'SPIRITUAL PEOPLE',
WHO MISTAKE FORM FOR SUBSTANCE, PRAYERS FOR PERFORMANCE, WORSHIP FOR PRACtlCE. SENT IMENTAL IT) FOR THE COMM ITMENT JOF CONSCIOUSNESS.
SO IT IS NOT OUR FALSE COMMERCIALISM THAT PREVENT.' IT, BUT THE JINGLE OF BELLS, CALLING US TO SENTIMENTALITY, AND SEDUCING US fROM THE YEAR-ROUND TASK OF BROTHERHOOD AND LOVE.
WALT WHITMAN WHEN HE SANG
WAS ACCUSED OF EGOTISM OR SACRELEGE IN LEAVES OF GRASS, ' I CELEBBATE '
MYSELF.’
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HUT IT MAY BE THAT HE WAS CLOSER TO THE REAl MEANING OF CHRISTMAS THAN MOST PERFUNCTORY1
CHARADE*1' °'S' -•AND°fHE
IkkeMelS ®f‘cT« i "fn<sE»™^ We*
BACKDROP OF THE IDEA OF THE DIVINE DEPTH WITHIN.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES A LA nirKFNC ’CHRISTMAS CAROL* -- IN THRfE FRAMES-ENS a CHRISTMAS PAST	,	-
*-CHR ISTMAS PRESENT ^CHRISTMAS FUTURE.
WT,

OTHFRGrHpIcTM^r?OU t9g^?A,c!< JN YOUR MEMORY TO
UNTp^HERpRETSENTSEXPERIEN«
RFm!/?Sr rIrTlUDcloAB0UT CHRISTMAS, SANTA CLAUS
ETC* WITHOUT JUDGING LOOK AT
THpCONTEXT OF TODSArSAEYJiPEARIENCENB ^ 'NT°
TuFNr.L.:.ftffiJsItl/LS..f!R££lilir 1 nny at yourself today
and doubts: be willing t6 admii^To^theRfacegbg
ABD FACADE...ANDTHE CHARADE WE ARE PLAYING^
REALIZE THAT THESE * RE THE
BUT BE WILLING	■■
OURSELF TO LETTING IT fiSfr#:
JMSKSIST ] NG_THAT THE WORD ’efi^j. tugui
IGHT THINK OrTHE
• • •
ALSO CONNOTES '6IFT CHALLENGE OF CHRISTMAS GIVING.
I||E WORD 'PRESENT' IN BOTH CONNOTATIONS mmf<;
from root meaning, before, near; around! wes
SO, WE WANT TO ENGAGE
T...GIVING W NO F
COMP I FTFI Y |N
_____RINGS, GIVING
AJIQNS FOR RECIPROCATON
THAT?
/MS SWW«iS1fiI“'h&V “7
LET THE GIVING BE fINNER CENTERED’ PURELY A
0r8uRE2^R^fSET°SFEL^V,NG WAY T° ™E FL0W?
THEN IT BECOMES A TRUE CHRISTMAS PRESENT A 'BIRTH GIFT’ FOR THE GIFT ITSELF DEMONSfRATES THE GIFT OF 6UR DIVINER NATURE.
ED
he-had’VanTshed'dURing'chrIstmasIn^nS oZi '2JrNS•
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ME XT C FULL S HO DESK OVE HAT I HAP
RES REN SING WIT TED ISPEN IFEi
THEN -THE FUT WHY NOT
_________THE COMMITMENT FOR
ISTMAS IS AN UNFINISHED STORY. WRITE THE STORY?
TODAY...REFLECT IN A KIND OF CHRISTMAS DRFAM ON THE KIND OF CHRISTMAS YOU WOULD LIKF TO' " EXPERIENCE...THE KIND OF PRESENTS YOU WOULD LIKE
f«BEciifVSofE.'""ERPOT™'‘UTIES
HW.MIWII m
HAD HAPPENED YESTERDAY...DEALING WITH ALL FACETS WORK-UFE FEfc'FINANCES' RELATI0NSHIPS» HEALTH,
THIS IS CHRISTMAS FUTURE...WRITE IT IN THE FORM OF A PROCLAMATION FOR YOURSELF. PUT IT IN A GAY-COLORED ENVELOPE...OR WRAP IT IN A BERIBBONEC PACKAGE...AND PUT IT ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE OR SOMEWHERE WHERE IT WILL BRIGHTEN UP YOUR PLACE.
AND THEN...ON CHRRISTMAS MORNING...OPEN IT AS TOUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT. AND BAKE TIME JO READ IT OVER CAREFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY. IT
ccmm"10 T"E
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EVENTUALLY DISSEMBLE THE FACADE WHEN YOU TAKE THE TRIMMINGS OFF THE TREE AND CAREFULLY PACK THEM AWAY...WHEN THINGS HIVE BEEN PUT BACK IN THEIR NON-CHRISTMAS PLACES...
IT IS LIKELY THAT SOMEONE WILL MAKE THE REMARK:
CHRISTMAS!'
THAT IS THE TIME TO REMEMBER THAT THE REAL CELEBRATION IS NOT OVER...IT HAS JUT BEGUN. IF SOME THING REALLY HAPPENED DURING THE CHARAOE, THEN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A SYMBOLIC BIRTH OF THE CHRIST WITHIN YOU...AND IT WILL INFLUENCE YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE YRR...YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
* IF EVERY DAY WERE CHRISTMAS, HOW DIFFERENT LIFE WOULD BE,
IF NOT ONE DAY BUT ALL THE ?EAR WERE RULED BY CHARITY.
HAD WE THE FAITH IN MIRACLES A CHILD HAS CHRISTMAS MORN,
EACH DAY WOULD BE LOVE'S MANGER AND CHRIST WOULD BE REBORN.
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IN US IGA IN TO CHANGE AND HEAL OUR OUTWSRN WARS AND WAYS -HAD WE A CHILD'S OR SHEPHERD'S FOR WONDERMENT AND PRAISE!
GIFT
YET EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS WHEN WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE BY LOVE'S LAW, LEARNED NOT HOW TO GET BUT ONLY HOW TO GIVE:
AND LIKE A CHILD CAN WONDER..AND LIKE A CHILD CAl
BUT HAVE THE GROWNUP WISDOM TO GIVE OUR$E$£s .