2015-12 Winter Quarter

ave a holly, jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year…” Hearing Burl Ives’

voice on the mall radio for the sixth time that morning was more than enough for

me. I vented a sigh of frustration and confusion. Christmas was hastily approaching,

and I was knee-deep in the laborious process of perusing the stores for the “perfect

something” for my parents and siblings.

Everything was wild during my hunt. The stores were packed tighter than sardine

cans; bold, tacky decorations besieged my eyes; and an ecstatic “Hallelujah!” was let

out if I could find a space in a parking lot. After glancing about, I thought to myself,

“Why are all these people here? What am I doing here?” So many people had strayed

from the true meaning of Christmas and what “giving a gift” really means…had I done

the same?

I thought I was fully aware of the true meaning of Christmas—it was the celebration

of Christ’s birth, and a time for family and friends to rejoice. Hitherto, I was falling

into a trap—a secular, stereotypical trap of “I gotta buy,” or, “I gotta find the perfect

gift!” I believed that since my family was devout and traditionally oriented, I would

definitely not become secularized and go on shopping sprees. With this thought in my

mind, it was easy for me to return my items and leave. “There,” I said, “I got myself