One of my favourite Christmas songs isn’t really about  Christmas. At least,  not just about Christmas… It’s about “I want to buy in to the benevolent,” and “So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth/ And good will to man…” In other words, it’s about more than one religion, or even one holiday…

This time of year, there’s a tug-of-war going on that puzzles me. It’s the whole “Happy Holidays vs. Merry  Christmas” skirmish. I hesitate to frame this in military terms, as at least one national group has called it ‘The War on Christmas.’ And I don’t think it is. In fact, the only people I know upset are, actually, a very few Christians. None in my family (and we have 4 Christian ministers, from 2 denominations). None among my colleagues. None of my close friends. […]

December is bigger than Christmas. And faith is bigger than only Christianity. There are as many ways to find the truth that curls within the heart of belief as there are believers. And non-believers. And those of us who tread the Middle Path between.

So here’s my take on it: at this time when snow and cold and ice return, when darkness still lengthens and it takes a double cappuccino to get me going, I want to include everyone I know who believes in happiness. Who believes that light will return. I want to reach out to each of you who celebrates whatever festivals your family delights in, and join hands with you. I don’t believe in a Christian Christmas, for what it’s worth. But I do believe in what the song celebrates: the idea that for one month, people in many religions and of many faiths celebrate peace on earth and good will to humanity.

That seems enough to me. So Happy Holidays. Celebrate the dark by lighting lights, decorating a tree, hanging mistletoe and cooking a feast. That an entire country — many of whom are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, agnostic, Wiccan, and atheist (and other :)) — does this together? That’s what saves me from my righteous doubt…