Reclaiming Christmas

Commercialism stole its soul . . . but we can take it back.

You can spot a failing society by its rituals.

Christmas was once a celebration of light — of love breaking into the world. Generations would gather to share stories, songs and prayers.

Then, bit by bit, commercialism stole its soul. Now it's all gift-wrapped glitz and candy-cane kitsch. Wish lists and waste.

And it didn't end there. Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day . . . commercial forces hijacked every one of our once-sacred rituals and made hungry ghosts of us all.

But an ember still glows in the dark.

If we cup our hands around our sacred moments, breathe them back to life, we might remember how to soar again. How to build. How to see. And in the shadows of our world, we might catch a glimpse of what we humans were truly meant to be.

So this year, skip the gorgonzola fest. Choose to create a new ritual that feeds your soul, weaves your friends and loved ones together, and gives you strength for the tough year ahead.