The year I overdosed on Christmas

Posted byJohn EliPosted inboundaries, family, grace, Life Lessons, marriageTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I sat there on the couch, surrounded by people that I loved and cared about, but at that moment I would have given anything for an excuse to get up and leave.

It was the 4th church-sponsored Christmas gathering that I had been to that year, and it was only the second week of December.

I took a look around the room and everyone seemed to be so happy. They seemed delighted to share in favorite family recipes, warm drinks, and Christmas carols. I, on the other hand, clothed myself in a fake smile and thought to myself, “If someone sings O Little Town of Bethlehem, one more time, I’m going to smash the nearest Nativity” (Ok, that’s a little dramatic… but I seriously wanted the carols to stop).

As I sat there, and despite being surrounded by friends,  I couldn’t help but think about everything else on my calendar, that had been planned out for me. I was expected to participate in our church’s yearly, “Drive-through Christmas Nativity,” which although a blast, it was also a physically taxing two-day event. There was one event that I was looking forward to. The youth-leadership team and I had planned an “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party for the teens of our church. Together, we put forth a ton of effort to ensure that it would be an unforgettable event for all in attendance. There would  be food, games, dancing, & fun… It was going to be a blast…… However, the list of events didn’t end there. There was an additional staff potluck, a deacon appreciation dinner at a local restaurant, additional parties hosted by our life groups, and I was expected to rehearse music for our Christmas Eve candlelight communion service….. I wish I could say that it ended there. However, a week later, I was also expected to host a youth “lock-in” for New Year’s Eve.

To say I wanted to run away from Christmas that year was an understatement. In addition, I knew that I was robbing my family of Christmas too. I still had several family parties that I wanted to attend. I also wanted to be present for the Christmas pageants that my daughter was participating in. Somehow, I was expected to fit all of this into my schedule and I didn’t know how to make it happen.

I remember looking into the mirror that Christmas Eve as I was getting ready for church. As much as I loved my church family, and as much as I loved Jesus, I just didn’t feel like celebrating His birthday anymore…… Let me explain myself a bit…  Never once have I grown tired of celebrating Jesus. Nevertheless, I was super tired of the Christmas hype surrounding this season. I was tired of the unrealistic expectations placed on me to be a “Holy Spirit filled” Buddy Hobbs (see the movie: ELF), that simply adored the holiday hoopla.

I couldn’t ignore the truth. My life was falling off-balance and I was beginning to resent the senior leadership of my church. In fact, I ended up committing an act of leadership treason that no one else on the pastoral staff had ever done in this church’s history. I informed the senior pastor that I would not be attending first night of the Drive-through Christmas Nativity. Instead, my life-group and I, were electing to attend the graduation party of a fellow-life group member, that just finished her bachelor degree. The end result, I was verbally tarred and feathered for leading what was perceived to be a mutiny. Take it, I still showed up the following day, and sang Christmas carols in the freezing cold for 3 hours,  and developed the yearly chest-cold that would spontaneously appear after this event. Nevertheless, it felt so good to say “no” for once.

Anyhow, at the end of this Christmas season I became aware of three things that I’d like to share with you.

1. Celebrating Jesus is something that I naturally want to do

Those that know me personally, know that I absolutely love to worship Jesus. I love to sing to him and sing about him. I also love to hear and share stories about him too. And that’s not all. I also love to follow in his footsteps and show love to those who others deem to be unworthy.

However, I absolutely cringe when I sense that someone is trying to force me to conform to what they believe “celebrating Jesus” should look like. In fact, I’m at a place in my life where I’d choose hanging out with some friends at my home, and having a Christmas worship and jam session in my living room, over participating in an over-the-top holiday production any day.

2. It’s “OK” to say no

Learning how to say no was kind of like opening up Pandora’s box. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel the guilt that many people say that they feel when they say “No.” In fact, I was able to sometimes you have to say “No” to good things, to make room for the best things.

Sadly, I don’t have much communication with the senior pastor of this church (for more about this story see “confessions of a chronic idolator”). To this day, he is a man that I still greatly admire, and I am always happy to reunite with him when the opportunity allows. However, there hasn’t been much effort on his part to remain in contact with me.

On the other hand, I continue to be in communication with the young girl whose graduation party I attended. In fact, I even had the honor of officiating her wedding a few years back.

This leads me to believe that sometimes “making room”, from time to time, is essential to establish the relationships that will be with you for the long-haul of life’s journey.

3. My family should always come before a congregation

In the past, I was constantly reminded that the congregation had gone out of their way to provide a salary for me. Any time I brought up challenges with my pastoral expectations, I was graciously reminded that I needed to perform because it was expected of me. I remember having to tell my daughter that I couldn’t attend certain functions, because ministry called me to be at the church. This never felt right, but nevertheless, I knew that I had to comply if I wanted to remain an employee of the church.

During the time of my “Christmas-time rebellion”, my salary had received a considerable raise. However, working approximately 50-55 hours per week it left me making about $7.69 per hour. When reminded of this, I have to fight guilt and shame knowing that I sacrificed family time for that salary. In fact, I don’t believe that any salary could now entice me from what I deem to be most important.

My wife and now are currently empty-nesters. Unfortunately, I can’t go back in time and correct the choices I made years ago. However, I am consciously choosing to prioritize my wife before any expectations of any church, employer, person, etc.,

At the end of the day, she is the most important ministry that God has given me, and I must love her as Jesus loved the church.

So what now?

I share all of this to encourage you to celebrate Jesus this Christmas season in a manner that brings Him glory and that fills your soul. I encourage you to plan your Christmas calendar in a manner that is free of guilt or shame. Finally, if saying “No” is difficult for you, choose instead to only say “Yes” to the activities that bring life to your soul.

Unapologetically yours,

John Eli Garay

 

John Eli is a transformational life coach who has spent over 15 years mentoring individuals in life skills, career transitions, and through organizational change. His resume includes pastoral care, behavioral health, and higher-education advising. From an early age, John recognized that God created him to bring hope, healing and encouragement to others. He is currently walking out his purpose by helping others confront, and work through, any negative self-talk that keeps them from living life to the fullest. His ministry includes blogging, speaking, and personal development coaching. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife, mini-schnauzer and an antique piano whom he calls, “Betty.”

To schedule a coaching session with John Eli click here.

 

Published by John Eli

I am a self-awareness coach (coach for humans), life strategist, blogger and speaker. I’ve spent over 21 years mentoring individuals in life skills, career transitions, relationships, and life recovery. My resume includes pastoral care, behavioral health, and higher education. From an early age, I realized that God created me to bring hope, healing and encouragement to others. I am currently living out my purpose by creating a space where people can rediscover and become all that they were created to be. I currently live in the beautiful state of Arizona with my wife, two dogs, and an antique piano whom I call, “Betty.”

40 thoughts on “The year I overdosed on Christmas”

  3. One of the best Sunday School classes I recall, as a young married man who also did a lot at church, was a class on the need to say “No,” especially to the church. Choir, ushering, youth group, substituting Sunday School classes, Bible studies, softball, Men’s group… Balance is good, and once you learn to balance so too will your life begin to get into balance at many levels. Just my thoughts! Great post!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. I applaud your ability to be unapologetic about not having to people please and just doing you in the process. Sometimes people can pull guilt trips to manipulate people into participating in things that aren’t necessarily a “spiritual” priority. It’s ok to fellowship with your friends and family and no one should trump that. – blessings 🙂 Sherline

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. John, the Christmas “hoopla” has always been a huge turnoff for me. That is no longer an issue . I drop a dollar for the bell-ringers whenever I go to the store, celebrate Jesus with anyone who wants to join, and limit Christmas carol listening to 1 week before Christmas. Thanks for writing a great post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Great post! As a staff member at a church, I get what you’re saying about Christmas. I love Jesus. I love worshiping Him. And this is what I do; but it takes being bold at saying no and then saying yes to the right things. Keeping Christmas simple adds joy to the whole season.

    I’m thankful that the current team I serve with is sensitive to the need to put family first. But it’s not always been that way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. God bless you both. Finding balance has always been a struggle for me. I’ve come to realize that I struggle with the idolatry of approval. I always have to ask myself if my intention is to honor God or please others. I also have given certain people the right to question my intentions behind my busyness. The struggle is real.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  11. Reblogged this on Meeting Jesus and commented:
    Celebrating Christ is a daily privilege and joy. It happens throughout the year not just Christmas. John Eli’s post is a good reminder to keep Christ center of life and choosing the best. If you would like to read his other posts you can find him at john-eli.com.

    Like

    Reply

  13. I get it! Sometimes I think the best thing about the Christmas season is January 2nd. It’s gotten easier to deal with when I very slowly began to say ‘no’ to all the demands. Still, saying ‘no’ is difficult for me. Thank you for you post. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I chuckled a bit when I read that your favorite part is January 2nd…. I’ve actually started to go to my cultural roots and celebrate El Dia de Los Magos Rey (the epiphany). I usually make a huge pot of posole and have a game day. I also have everybody bring a gift that that they received, but probably won’t use, for a white elephant gift exchange. It is low key, no Christmas music is played, we just eat and have fun.

      Like

      Reply

  14. Thank yo so much for your thoughts. My husband is a people person and pastor. I’m not a people person but a pastor’s wife. We’re both busy people (he works two jobs in addition to pastoring. I work a full time job and am a writer which is like another full time job), and I just can’t say yes to everything. I need recharging time. We’re in a very small church, and when we’re absent it’s noticeable. There are times when he doesn’t seem to understand where I am in not feeling like I need to be part of every single thing the church does. It’s nice to hear from someone else who sees the good in sometimes saying no.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’ve been at the place where your husband is currently at. Finding a balance is such a struggle. However, it is extremely crucial to emotional, physical, and spiritual health. I pray that you will be able to find that equilibrium. Blessings to you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Merry Christmas, may it be a time of reflection and renewal for you and your family instead of a time full of “obligations”.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Christmas has become such a commercialized venue that even the churches demand to participate in everything, has been more of a challenge then a retreat to energize ourselves with the Spirit of what it’s all about. We’ve forgotten the true spiritual meaning behind all the ‘hoopla’. In which, it looses it’s appeal, cheapening it, when it finally arrives we’re too tired. At one time or another we’ve all felt this way, our spirit has disconnected itself because of it. I so agree with you, sometimes it’s best to say ‘no’, and regroup on the truth of why we celebrate it to begin with, (as you did by attending your friend’s graduation). The gift of love comes from the heart and if it’s obligated to do something because that’s what the world expects, then it ceases to come from the soul. Jesus is the light that shines behind the songs and pageantry. And sometimes our elders forget this. They need to be reminded that the unity of the church is in helping and understanding that each of us need to fulfill our own obligations of the heart.

    For God so loved the world that He sent His Son as a wee baby to experience the world through our humanity. He freely gave of himself. By the time He started His ministry, He knew/knows all our emotions and trials for He experienced them. He alone takes our yoke upon Himself. In Him there is peace. Peace in the heart of not feeling guilty of saying ‘no’ for the right reasons. Peace in mutual understanding, peace of mind and spirit. Only as we continue to mature in His grace does the true reason for the seasons mean more then the marketing of it all.

    Thank you for sharing your experience and your thoughts, very inspirational to sit back and reflect. Let’s, as you have said, “celebrate Jesus this holiday season in a manner that brings Him glory and fills our soul.” Blessings always and have yourself a Merry Christmas with family and friends surrounding you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. Your honesty is so refreshing. Though I grieve you went though it, I rejoice the Lord lead you though it. 👑✝

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. I think it’s important to remember that saying “no” to a church commitment is NOT saying “no” to God. I think that it’s far too easy to overextend ourselves with church commitments because we feel that is what we are required to do, as a person of faith. It isn’t. We’re allowed to set our own boundaries, and I truly believe that is what God wants us to do. Good for you for sharing this with others! I do think it will help so many of us!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment