Christmas Funk
December 18, 2008

Today we welcome freelance writer, Mike Wright...

There's a "funk" that I often find myself in during the Christmas season, and it happened again this year. As Christmas Day gets closer, I catch myself stewing about the year, mentally cataloging my regrets of the past, my concerns about the future, and the reasons I have to be melancholy in the present. Of course, that's when the "funk" level begins to rise. (Just to be clear, I'm not talking about a "Soul Train"-type funk here. Although that would be weird, I might actually enjoy it. Embarrassing my daughter would be a bonus too.)

"Melancholy" is a funny, old-fashioned word, but it does describe the feeling, this "funk." And yet there's another reason to be in a "funk;" I've reached the age where I'm perfectly comfortable using a word like "melancholy." (Man, oh man...I am getting old.)

So the "Christmas funk" once again crept up and I started fretting over some family health concerns, a couple of strained relationships, a shortage of money for gifts and my job security in this miserable economy. Add to that the persistent crick in my neck and my dog needing surgery on his...backside, and the 747-like noise the dishwasher is now making, I thought this year's "funk" was certainly justifiable.

(My attempt to make light of the situation by telling my daughter that our entire gift budget would be "going up the dog's behind" didn't go over well. I tried though.)

"Merry Christmas?" Yeah, whatever. I'd curl up in a fetal position if my stiff and sore back would let me. I'll just sit here and stew...sort of stew in my own juices.

I discovered a long time ago that it's impossible for me to read the Bible for any length of time without coming away in a better mood. Impossible. So I opened it up and played some "Bible roulette."

"Meaningless! Meaningless! says the teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"

Not much Christmas spirit from Solomon with the opening verse of Ecclesiastes.

Ten verses later it's "There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow."

The wisest man to ever live is now rubbing salt in the wound by basically telling me "Life's a drag, then you die and no one will care." Thanks pal. Really, what should I expect from a guy that had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Some "wise" man.

Bible roulette! That was a dumb idea! Whatever...I guess I'll keep reading though.

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."

Okay...that's a pretty good one. I'll give him that.

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do."

Now THAT'S the holiday spirit! One smart man that Solomon. (And I'm going to breakout in "halleluiahs" if he tells me to have a cigar and brandy after dinner.)

"Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun ..."

Even twenty years later, it's impossible for me to look at my wife and not fall in love all over again. Sure, there have been some rough spots over the years, but honestly, she still makes me crazy, in a good way.

Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks a lot about how many things "under the sun" are "meaningless," that so much of the stuff we fill our lives with just doesn't matter.

The tree, the gifts, the lights, the carols, the parties, the decorations...sure, we all enjoy it, but don't you think Solomon might say..."meaningless?"

And there's the "bottom line" for Christmas. (We men like bottom lines...it's the "getting there" that bugs us.) A Christmas without Christ just doesn't matter.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

You know, now that I think about it, my "Christmas funk" just doesn't make sense. Heck, I guess it's been a pretty good year, really good in fact. And in spite of everything, things are looking up.

I think I'm going to have eggnog now.

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Mike Wright and his wife Deborah live in West Linn, Oregon. The proud father of five and grandfather of three, Mike grew up in California where he had long careers as a radio DJ and in the auto body industry. With a passion for Men's Ministry, Mike committed his life to Jesus Christ in his early 40's. He can be reached at mikeinwestlinn@comcast.net.