’Tis the season.

(Once again, my apologies for the delay in getting a new column posted. You know the one about the one-armed paper-hanger? -- David)

Yes, it’s Christmas once again.

Earlier today I answered an online poll on the United Church Observer website that asked, “Be honest. Are you looking forward to Christmas?”

In all honesty, I answered, “Yes.” But it’s a yes with an asterisk. Once again I find myself dealing with mixed feelings about Christmas.

I truly do love Christmas, the whole Christmas thing. I love the lights and decorations, the smell of a real Christmas tree (although I do not have one, and my church has been using a now well-worn artificial tree for several years now), the music (although not with the mind-numbing repetition found on the local “Oldies” station), the TV specials, and the overall feeling of festive cheer.

However, all those same things can also trigger a rather deep melancholy in me.

Today marks two years since my ex-wife Susan was killed crossing Trunk Road.

This will be the nineteenth Christmas without my parents.

Christmas can be a lonely time for some, even when they are among friends.

Last week I tuned into Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and as usual I enjoyed it thoroughly, for the most part.

It’s like a moving Currier and Ives or Norman Rockwell painting, depicting an idealized family life, especially at Christmastime. However, for those who are not living an ideal life, it’s a bit easier to understand why George headed for the bridge that snowy night.

No, don’t worry — I’m not heading to the bridge, and there’s no need for my own personal Clarence to intervene.

But the bridge does loom just at the edge of the horizon.

And, as I have mentioned before, the shortened days don’t help much, either.

I was looking back through the archive to see how often I have touched upon the “blue Christmas” theme (since 2009), and I stumbled across a  column from 21 December 2007, where I discussed keeping Christ in Christmas.

One poster took me to task for my views on the timing of Christmas, and told me that “God tells you to care how you choose to worship him…”

While his comments did stem from a misunderstanding (or mis-reading) of my remarks, it spurred a discussion on how the date that we celebrate as Christmas came to be.

It is a date that has been celebrated by many societies, and indeed by entire civilizations, for may centuries.

The winer solstice, and the return — or re-birth — of the sun.

The Greeks marked this occasion, as did the Romans, and countless other pagan societies, especially those in more northerly latitudes. After experiencing a steady decline in the length of the day, to mark the point where the sun begins climbing back into the sky (at least, as the ancient peoples believed) is a significant event.

For all the debate  over the secularization of western society, and the decline of “religion,” this pagan-turned-Christian holiday of Christmas honours that timeless celebration.

There are many who don’t notice the length of day, or do and perhaps even complain about it, although it does not affect them as much as it does some of us.

Those who are more sensitive to it do find things get a little easier after Christmas (earlier in fact, since the solstice typically occurs three days before).

With the passing of Christmas also comes the shedding of the trappings — the decorations, the songs, the TV specials.

Life returns to a semblance of normal, whatever that is.

One is still lonely, and the days still are not long enough, but it does become better, bit by bit.

Having family and friend with which to share in this holiday, arguably the most family-oriented in western society, certainly makes the celebration more meaningful, and indeed I have many years’ worth of happy Christmas memories.

But this is the time of year we must not forget those who may feel excluded from the joy of the season.

It is a time to give a little extra to the Food Bank or the Soup Kitchen, or to the church or other charities who help those in need.

In the 80s a bunch of rock and pop stars got together to sing a song to raise money for Africa. The song was “Do they know it’s Christmas?”

I liked the song, and applauded their efforts, but that line has always stuck in my craw. The plain answer is most likely, “No, they don’t. And they likely don’t care, either.” But I'm sure that the people of Africa appreciated the assistance that stemmed from that recording.

While I do consider myself a Christian, I am not so arrogant as to believe that Christianity is the only valid religion.

Nonetheless, as a Christian I do feel compelled to do unto others as I would have done for me. Regardless of what Faith, if any, my neighbours choose to express.

Christmas is a time of sharing, not just with family and friends, but with all our neighbours, near and far, at home and around the world.

I hope you are able to share a little extra at this time of year. Or, if you are in need, that you will be the recipient of someone’s caring and generosity.

After all… ’tis the season.

Merry Christmas