I’m looking at my calendar for the month of September. It’s one of those desk ones that have a big square for each day of the month. On each day, there’s a number with a slash and then another number. The number of days gone by and days to come. Today’s 266/100. This calendar also indicates special days. Now it doesn’t have Donut Day or Chili Dog Day on it, some might. But, for the month of September it has Labor Day, U.N. International Day of Peace, Autumn Begins, and Rosh Hashanah. I’m not sure who picks what events make it to the calendar, but clearly donut and chili dog lovers had no say in this calendar!
Today Autumn Begins, or so the calendar tells us. When I look at this calendar, I’m reminded about how driven we are by numbers, by dates, and I’m reminded about how some of those dates have special meaning. I started thinking about the holidays and other days that are observed throughout the year.
There’s New Year’s Day, a day on which we celebrate, well…the new year. Generally, it’s quite a bash. The ball drops, shotguns blast, bands march. Our Jewish friends will be celebrating their new year next week, Rosh Hashanah. I’m not a party pooper or anything, but I wonder why we celebrate New Year’s Day anyway?
We’ve got President’s Day, to honor all the deceased presidents, and Martin Luther King, Jr. day to honor a civil rights pioneer. I’m down with that. Presidents and Pioneers are important to our nation. These days are set aside to remember the folks who came before and made a significant impact on our country.
Although not a federal holiday, it still makes it onto some calendars. Easter. Of course, we as Christians know the celebration of this day. It has nothing to do with ushering in Spring, the Easter Bunny, Easter Baskets (I do like me some buttercream eggs), Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Bonnets, or Easter Parades. We’ve fixed the name Easter to many things that aren’t about Easter, the resurrection of our Lord which results in our salvation.
Then we have Memorial Day. A day to remember those who gave their lives so we have the freedoms that we have. From those who died in the birthing of our nation to those who will die in order for us to maintain our freedom, thank you.
Next is July 4th, celebrating the birth of our nation. A nation that was founded in order to have religious freedom, to break away from the Church of England. We celebrate a nation that is slowly losing the freedom to practice that religion it came here for. We celebrate with flag flying, picnics, parades, fireworks.
On to Labor Day, the fall signal, the back to school signal (some call it the most wonderful time of the year), to honor workers for their contributions to our country. And then, one of my favorites, Columbus Day! You know Christopher Columbus – in 1492 our history books all say, Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered America-i-a, and discovered America! That’s from my Winchester Avenue School days. It’s kind of funny too — a day to celebrate a man that we’re now not completely sure discovered America.
We then have Veteran’s Day to honor all those who are still living that fought for our freedoms. After Veteran’s Day the year kicks into high gear, doesn’t it?
Thanksgiving. Since George Washington’s time, this holiday celebrates the harvest. Folks in 1789 were pretty grateful for the food they had. Thus, the celebration. We don’t necessarily celebrate the food anymore – it’s all about the sales and two days off work – what’s not to celebrate? Just seems a little funny that we get time off work to observe the harvest which the Pilgrim’s wouldn’t have had had they been given two days off work.
Then there’s Christmas. The day most known for Santa, Christmas Trees, Christmas gifts, and Christmas decorations. Again, we stick the word Christmas in front of everything in December. As Christians we know Christmas is about Jesus. Wait – what? Oh, that’s right, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Sometimes I forget all about the meaning. You too?
So, I started thinking. I don’t know who you have to get permission from, maybe the national calendar people – whoever they are, but if we can celebrate everything else, even some things that are no longer a cause for celebration, why can’t we come up with one?
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
So, how about God Day, Creator Day, Jesus Day, Redeemer Day? Anybody else in? We probably shouldn’t calendar God Day or Redeemer day because in time it too would become distorted. We people tend to mess things up a bit. But, think about it. How about a picnic, a parade, a day off work? I’m not sure how the calendar people or the rest of the nation would react to that?
We may not be able get the national calendar people on board with God Day or Redeemer Day. But, that doesn’t have to stop us. The distortions through time of our other national holidays doesn’t stop us from celebrating them, right?
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Sounds like we should be making a concerted effort to make every day Redeemer Day in our hearts? What would we need to change in our lives to make that happen? Maybe not a parade or a picnic, but couldn’t we make our celebration just as important, maybe even more so by celebrating with words of kindness and compassion, by putting our servant hands in action, by bowing down instead of chaotically running around, by living each moment in an attitude of prayer instead of in an attitude of despair?
You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
Psalm 4:7
Celebrating our joy by living our joy. How do you think people would react to that? If we joyfully celebrated Redeemer Day, every day, with our minds and hearts. God has chosen us to spread the Good News, wouldn’t living as if every day were Redeemer Day be a great start? Can you imagine how lives would be changed and the work God would do if we daily celebrated Redeemer Day, even if it’s not on the calendar? Just imagine…