Idolatry of the Holiday Season

Okay, it’s officially the holiday season. Thanksgiving is a few days away. Christmas is just around the corner. New Year’s Day will be soon to follow. It’s like POW, BAM, BOOM (insert Batman theme music). Don’t get me wrong; I’m a fan of the holiday season. I don’t care if you call it Thanksgiving or Turkey Day or Christmas or X-Mas or New Year’s or Drunkfest—I’m a fan.

The holiday season gives us an excuse to get around the people we don’t typically WANT TO or GET TO be around. Family. Friends. Co-workers (outside of work). Neighbors. Everyone becomes a blur eventually. The holidays are a time when people come TOGETHER. It’s a time of CELEBRATION. It’s a time of GIVING (and RECEIVING). It’s a time of JOY. And it’s also a time of overindulgence, fighting, and loneliness (they aren’t in caps because I don’t like them as much).

Reading through John this morning I got hung up on the following verse:

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 NKJV)

It seemed to fit so well with the holiday season. No, it’s not because I typically put on 15-20lbs over the winter, it’s because I have the potential to get so wrapped up in the FESTIVITIES that I’ll neglect the GOD living inside of me. I like food (the majority of my photographs on Instagram are food). I like food A LOT. And often I’ll treat the holidays like they’re a celebration of FOOD! Same thing with GIFTS (mainly giving them). Either way I lose sight of the God who gives me reason to celebrate, the God who gives me reason to be thankful, the God who gave His son for me (and the rest of the world). I get so wrapped up in ME that I forget HIM.

I gotta decrease.

I gotta clear out some room.

I gotta make some space.

I gotta remember the WHO and not get lost in the WHAT.