Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Earl and I arrived home from Colorado five days ago with Christmas staring us in the face. We have about a dozen boxes to unpack before we’re truly settled into our new home, and already we’re supposed to rearrange furniture to accommodate a tree, a train, and other holiday accoutrements.

Which leads me to wonder, just what exactly is the definition of the “holiday spirit”? I mean, when people say they’re in the mood or they have the spirit, I don’t really know what they’re saying. Are they happy? Are they buying tons of gifts? Are they excited? Or reflective?

I haven’t done a scientific study, but I don’t think the “spirit” is about grandiose decorations or big gifts. Neither is it about fancy clothing or flashy parties. Rather, it’s about noticing that the year is winding down and that the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ (which is really what Christmas is all about) is about to occur. It’s about thinking inward instead of outward. It’s about pausing instead of rushing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a believer or not; December is a time for reflection.

So I’ve decided this holiday we’ll do what we do. We’ll put up a tree as time permits. We’ll enjoy eggnog and listen to Christmas music; we’ll buy modest gifts and appreciate what we have. We’ll revel in the closeness of family and friends; and maybe in all of this we’ll have the spirit. And, whether we do or don’t, it doesn’t matter as long as we’ve enjoyed being together in the ebbing days of 2009.