Recapturing the Spirit of Christmas

I can’t remember the last time I was able to slow down enough to enjoy Christmas.  I have always made a feeble attempt to apply the brakes around the beginning of December but usually end up skidding past the exit, missing the off-ramp completely.  As my younglings grow older I have come to the realization that it is time to put all of my effort back into the Christmas season.

Mom and Dad always did Christmas right.  The photographs and reel-to-reel film from my childhood are glaring examples of what Christmas should be like for my girls.  This means that I need to put the Christmas tree up sometime before December 20^th.  I should throw some lights up on the roof and map out areas for other Christmas themed decorations to be placed around the house.  I need to make sure the house is warm and cozy.  Hot chocolate needs to be readily available and Bing or Frank needs to be singing to us softly in the background.  And Elvis.  Elvis was always great with those Christmas jingles.  

We can’t forget those classic films playing in the background.  A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer, and Charlie Brown Christmas playing in the background for the children.  Christmas Vacation and The Nightmare Before Christmas playing for mommy and daddy later in the evening.

First, and foremost, we have to remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  Tim Keller says, “At Christmas God moved into a very bad neighborhood and began rehabilitating it.”  Jesus' three-year ministry had more of an impact on this world than any other event or any other person in documented history.  This is why it is important for me to show my kids the real reason why we celebrate Christmas.  We have so much to be thankful for.  

As I mentioned above, Mom and Dad made Christmas magical for my sisters and I.  They made every effort to fill our stockings and pile gifts under the tree.  The milk, cookies, and carrots were always missing on Christmas morning which served to make our smiles that much bigger.  And the letters to Santa showed a return or two in one way or another.

Heather and I are looking forward to making this a magical time for our kids.  Just like our parents did for us.  

Don't Cheat Yourself (Counterfeit Concert)

Forbes wrote an article in May (2012) regarding the streaming of live concerts so that others are able to enjoy the show from the comfort of their couch.  Does this make anyone else cringe? DIY Live - Streaming: The Future of Concerts? - Forbes

I don’t mind convenience when it comes to certain things in life.  It is nice to be able to punch in an address on my phone when I am lost or call the sushi place down the street for a delivery order if I don’t feel like going out.  But watching a concert on my laptop?

I think that in some cases this works.  For instance, ITunes streamed the ITunes Festival in London which featured one of my favorite bands Jimmy Eat World (among others).  I don’t mind watching a few songs from a show like this on my laptop because there is absolutely no way I can attend.  So in some cases, I think streaming live shows isn’t so bad.

Having said that, let me say this.  There is no way that live streaming shows should ever take the place of being at a venue in person.  It is worth what some might call the “inconvenience.”

The Killers

The Tickets.  This is where the excitement begins for me.  I pay the extra two bucks for the hard copy.  I think E-Tickets are sacrilege.  I want the tickets in my hand.  I want to see the name of the band, the date, and the venue on that same piece of heavy paper I’ve been collecting since I was old enough to drive myself to Soma (San Diego).  

The Parking Lot.  I’ll pay the ten bucks to park.  Who cares?  The venue employs parking attendants who have traffic directing nailed down to a science.  The parking lot is where you see the patrons.  They are clad in tour tees, skinny jeans, heels, and they are sleeved up like me.  Some are taking that last flask hit and others are smoking one last grit before entering.  True rock n’ roll is blaring out of numerous car speakers in the lot.  

The Floor.  It’s dark.  There are a thousand people all vying for that open spot where you don’t have to stand behind the tall guy.  Everyone is patiently waiting for the opening act to get off the stage.  Sometimes that opening band rocks, sometimes they don’t.  There are the close encounters with that one guy who screams his favorite song into your ear as his Budweiser breath creates a warm film on the side of your face.  There is always that one girl who is dancing much like a gypsy to music that she can only be hearing in her own head (because it certainly doesn’t match what is coming from the speakers).  And buying a beer is pointless because there is always that guy who starts the mosh pit in the weirdest places at the weirdest time.  Mostly, there is unity.  Fists are pumping and we all belt out the lyrics as if we are the rock stars.  We are gripping each other's shoulders and helping each other up when we fall in the pit.  We are waving our arms in unison to the beat of the anthem.  We are one.

The Killers - Denver

The Headliner.  The house lights are cut and the crowd screams.  The crowd pushes to the front.  The band walks out on stage and that first chord is struck.  The kick drum and bass hit you in the chest over and over and over.  The guitar reverberates through every strand of hair on your head.  The front man screams “DENVER” and throws his hands in the air.  The band slams into the first song and it doesn’t stop for over an hour.  Every emotion can be found within the set list.  There are songs about anger and frustration, love and joy.  There are songs about heartbreak and loss, old times and new times.  You relate to the lyrics because you have been rocking to them for most of your life.  The front man can relate to you.  He is not singing to a massive crowd, but directly to you.  

The Encore.  The show's climax.  The band can never play enough songs.  And we aren’t leaving until they play a few more. The chants begin.  The feet start stomping.  We start clapping to the beat of our stomps.  One more song, one more song, one more song!  We scream as we see the drummer fly up to his kit.  The band launches into a mini set that resolves the show perfectly.  You leave feeling complete.  You drive home in a state of bliss.  Everything, other than the masterpiece you just witnessed, is forgotten.  Nothing else exists at that moment in time.  The show is burned into your brain. 

The Killers - Denver

 None of this can be captured with a camera.  It cannot be captured with surround sound and it cannot be felt from a 72” television screen.  It was meant to be heard from the front of the stage.  You were meant to sweat, bleed, and move out there on that floor.  Don’t let convenience ever rob you of this experience.  It cannot be replicated and it never will be.

The Killers - Live in the U.K.