The Rebel Jesus

I know that some people who read my blog are who like me are not Christian's and here we are at Christmas time when people are suppose to be celebrating the birth of Jesus the person to whom Christianity took it's name from yet has been side lined or on the other extreme be held up as a warrior prince and not the prince of peace. Here are some of my thoughts on Christmas followed by the lyrics from a great song by Jackson Browne, I tried to post the video but was unable to do so even after a considerable time trying, so if you want to hear the song just look it up on line.

I have a love hate relationship with Christmas. I have deep respect for Jesus, for his compassion, for his teachings and what they stand for. I don't believe he is the be all and end all though. He is one of many great teachers and his teachings are attractive to certain people just as the teachings of Mohammad, Buddha and any number of teachers, whose words have created a religion have meaning and importance to those that follow these teachers. Some religions don't have any one teacher but many or none at all but follow a path which the followers believe is true for them. Some people just simply lead spiritual lives without any particular religion. Who is to say what is right and what is wrong, it is all just human perspective based on deep feelings concerning spiritual matters. I am one of those that feels that in the end we will find out that what we hold true in our hearts is probably what will appear when we leave the physical world behind and move to the celestial world, if the celestial world even exist. Enough said about that.

I do celebrate Christmas, I am quite comfortable with Christian symbolism because in truth that is what the season is really about. If you are going to celebrate the birth of the Jewish carpenters kid then I would imagine there are going to be images and references to this kid. What I have a problem with is hypocrisy, intolerance, selfishness and rampant commercialism. True believers carry the love and compassion of Jesus with them 24/7 365, which is how it should be. Just like Buddhist you can't follow the teachings of the teacher only when it serves your purpose and only on special occasions and still receive the full benefit of the teachings, I have to practice the Dharma daily to the best of my ability, just like the 12 steps of recovery for those of us in recovery, half measures availed us nothing! It just seems to me and I could very well be wrong about this, that a lot of people only pick up the "Peace on Earth Goodwill towards all" mantra when Christmas is on the horizon. Maybe this a good thing because it gets people out of their self absorbed lives for 30 days or so a year which is better than never. Hey I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to giving money to a street beggar, my thought is generally that this person is working a scam, which is a shame because I am sure that some of these people are legit. I don't reserve charity for December though, just like all compassionate people this is something I do year round and do without much thought which is what my spiritual practices teach me. I know there are a lot of people out there that do the same. It is just sad that societies have gotten so caught up in their constant movement, the constant rush for the next "thing/more" that it is only during December that we are told to focus on others as much as we focus on self. I wish everyone mostly those in the positions of power would focus on keeping the spirit of Christmas alive everyday, thus replacing the intolerance that seems to prevail the rest of the year.

Compassion is more than just charity, it is helping others to help themselves, it is living by example, it is being assertive but not aggressive, being the strong voice of reason when people are in a bitter disagreement, it is teaching acceptance, acceptance in the fact that we don't have to like everything but that peace comes for accepting others for being just the way the Creator made them. Compassion is compromising, agree to disagree then find a common solution for the good of all. Compassion is wanting the best for everyone, love and tolerance. Yeah maybe this is all wrong, I don't know what I am talking about and I have listened to Imagine one to many times but I do believe this in my heart.

I wish there was away to get the focus off the buying of shit that benefits no one except the money changers, it sure doesn't benefit the slave labors who make it. I have no problems with buying presents, I buy them. What I have a problem with is the national obsession of it all, it is just spiritually ugly to me. My eyes see greed and selfishness at it's worse. People aren't thinking about Jesus or any other spiritual teacher, they are thinking about saving 10 bucks on a fucking 100 inch big screen TV, it's their money, I just wish it didn't pollute the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace. If you love to spend money over the holiday go for it, you earned, I just prayer you show compassion to all those around you and the poor retail people as you do so, that's all. One last nasty comment, now I put up decorations that are visible for people driving by my house, nothing inside because I live alone but I wonder how much of our decorations are about being festive and much of them are about one upmanship, "look Marge we have more stuff on our house and in our yard then the Smith's do". Just a question that runs through my mind, I really hope people are doing this for the right reason because I am selfish and enjoy the money they spend.

What does Christmas mean to Scott?? It is watching children's face's light up at all the sights and sounds, yes it is also watching them get all excited about new toys. It is Jesus and Santa Claus who is the other Spirit that gets diluted. It is home made gifts made with love. It is special treats they we only make once a year. It is great music with a spiritual themes, I wish someone would write a song about Buddha that is as wonderful as The Little Drummer Boy or Silent Night just to mention a few, Jethro Tull does have a Christmas album out that is more paganist and really awesome if you like Tull. Even for me it is making that special effort to be more compassionate towards others, this year I will be spending part of the day with people in the treatment center and I will do everything in my power to make the clients feel loved while they are missing their families, extra prayer and mediation to channel the power of God will take place. It is about family and close friends, the day when we all stop rushing around in our busy lives and take time out to be "truly present" with each other or at least that is the intention. For those that go to church I say God bless you and I hope you feel the presence of Jesus. For my pagan friends may we all stop and look at the wonder that is life and give thanks.

If you have stayed with this rant thanks, it was bound to come out sooner or later. I don't hate Christmas, in fact I am quite fond of it. If I seem too judgemental or harsh it was not my intention nor did I mean to offend anyone.

Peace and Love
Scott

The Rebel Jesus
by Jackson Browne

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus