{"id":3249,"date":"2015-12-25T03:03:25","date_gmt":"2015-12-25T09:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/?p=3249"},"modified":"2020-09-05T03:50:18","modified_gmt":"2020-09-05T08:50:18","slug":"unlocking-the-doors-of-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/unlocking-the-doors-of-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking the Doors of Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Grauer<\/a><\/h3>\n

Holiday Essay<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

U<\/span> \u00a0p the street from our house is an elaborately decorated home, truly beyond description. People come from all over to see it and hear it\u2014there is even a caroling soundtrack. And if that weren\u2019t enough, the family makes decorative changes or additions every few days. It even made the local news.<\/p>\n

Then there is our house. My neighbor commented recently on why I don\u2019t decorate my bushes more lavishly as I did in years past, or at least light the wreath on our front door. I have promised to do some more decorating, but it certainly won\u2019t compare to the miracle up the street.<\/p>\n

Before I head out with another strand of lights, though, I have to ask: What\u2019s Christmas about, anyhow? Is it about Christmas decorations? Is it about presents, parties, and Santa Claus? Or maybe it\u2019s about time off from work and that end-of-the year bonus?<\/p>\n

And what happens when we turn the page on December to welcome a New Year? Do we say, \u201cThat\u2019s that,\u201d and forget about it until next year?<\/p>\n

As I contemplate these questions I turn to Christmas past\u2014my past, that is. In my childhood in Cincinnati where I was raised, Christmas was also very special, but perhaps shorter in duration. My father and grandfather were both ministers, as were other members of the extended family, which meant they looked at the meaning of Christmas through different eyes. For one thing, preparing for Christmas was not about putting up lights; in fact, it was quite \u201cdark,\u201d a time of contemplation, reflection, and anticipation.<\/p>\n

A month before Christmas, the doors to our dining room and living room were taped and nailed shut. The front door that opened into them was also sealed off. It was dark and tomblike in there, but clearly something was happening.<\/p>\n

Yet, when I stole a peek through a crack in the door, I could see no Christmas tree or lights, not a glimmer of a decoration. All I saw was darkness.<\/p>\n

Then on Christmas Eve, we kids, and Mom and Dad, would gather in my parents\u2019 bedroom upstairs. My father read Luke\u2019s beautiful story of the birth of Jesus. Then, the front doorbell would ring and ring, and we\u2019d run down the stairs.<\/p>\n

The doors that had been locked stood wide open. The Christmas tree, ablaze with lights, illuminated the room. Everywhere were brightly colored wrapped presents, and a model train ran on its track at the base. Stockings were hung on the fireplace mantel\u2014proof that Santa Claus had been there.<\/p>\n

Childhood excitement got the better of me then. But now, looking back on that sweet and distant time, I can appreciate the metaphor and meaning of those doors to Christmas that were finally open. There was no more darkness\u2014only light.<\/p>\n

As I look back, I can also see that perhaps those locked doors represent our hearts. It takes the miracle of Christmas to open them wide\u2014to let in the light and gifts of grace that are truly life changing. Only by unlocking those doors can we open ourselves to genuine care and compassion for each other. For everyone. <\/em><\/p>\n

Today, as I write on this fourth Sunday of advent, the doors are locked. But soon, oh so soon, the Christ Child will come with the key to unlock our hearts and open our lives. And we will be forever changed.<\/p>\n

A Merry and Blessed Christmas to all.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

Rev. David Grauer<\/strong> is an ordained deacon of St.\u00a0Mary\u2019s<\/a> Episcopal Church in Park Ridge, Illinois, and has practiced dentistry for more than 50 years.<\/p>\n

Image Credit
\n“Clifton Mill Christmas 2005<\/a>” by\u00a0 Moofpocket<\/a> (based on copyright claims). Own work. Licensed under CC BY 2.5<\/a> via Commons<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

David Grauer Holiday Essay<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[102,141,6,64,100,38,43,22],"class_list":["post-3249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essays","category-uncategorized","tag-children","tag-christianity","tag-christmas","tag-faith","tag-family","tag-holidays","tag-reflection","tag-santa-claus"],"yoast_head":"\nUnlocking the Doors of Christmas | Faith Hope & Fiction<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/unlocking-the-doors-of-christmas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unlocking the Doors of Christmas | Faith Hope & Fiction\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"David Grauer Holiday Essay\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/unlocking-the-doors-of-christmas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith Hope & Fiction\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FaithHopeAndFiction\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-25T09:03:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-09-05T08:50:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/unlocking-doors-of-christmas_essay_david_grauer.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1170\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TrishCrisafulli\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TrishCrisafulli\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Faith Hope & Fiction\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FaithHopeAndFiction\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TrishCrisafulli\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/faith-hope-fiction_logo.png\",\"width\":350,\"height\":350,\"caption\":\"Faith Hope & Fiction\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/\",\"name\":\"Faith Hope & Fiction\",\"description\":\"Quality Online Fiction, Poetry, and Essays\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/unlocking-the-doors-of-christmas\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/faithhopeandfiction.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/unlocking-doors-of-christmas_essay_david_grauer.jpg\",\"width\":1170,\"height\":640,\"caption\":\"Unlocking the Doors of Christmas - 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