One of my strange joys at Christmas is learning other people's weird Christmas opinions. Everyone has them. For example, I don't believe Christmas music should be played until December 1st. That's my acceptable limit, and in truth I don't play it until the week before Christmas. Your limit may be different, but if it's before December 1st, I think you're crazy. The same limit applies to putting up trees and decorations.
I also think we should be a little more prudent with who gets candles at the Christmas Eve service at church. I don't think handing out hundreds of candles to people of all ages (and unknown pyromania proclivities) is wise. When the headline is "snake handler dies from snake bite," we know how we react. When we turn off the lights so that no one can see and then start passing fire around the whole congregation, I'm surprised we don't see more injuries or insurance claims after the service.
2020 is sure to be a different Christmas for most of us. So for this year only, I'm calling for a full pass on all Christmas tradition limitations. For some of us, we'll dive headfirst into the season. Our Christmas music kicked in as soon as the Halloween Monster Mash track finished. For others, it simply won't be the same because we're missing too much. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, I hope your season can still be one of hope, peace, love, and joy. Because all of us are celebrating Advent- the season of waiting- in a new light this year.
Merry Christmas, whatever it looks like for you and your family, this year.
- Ryan " Flash" Moore
PS. We can also have a pass on acceptable Christmas movies. They all count this year, even Die Hard.