With ever more people now vaccinated against COVID-19, you’d expect the pandemic restrictions to start letting up. They have, but only somewhat, as the COVID mutations and variants continue to evolve at an alarming rate. It seems a blessing that the vaccine, plus boosters, lessens the severity of COVID for those who have chosen to be immunized. You might still catch COVID, and suffer flu-like symptoms, but with the vaccine it’s not likely that you’ll require hospitalization. I pray that you stay safe and healthy.
This year’s Christmas card drew its inspiration from retailers who start selling Christmas even before Halloween.
If you want an actual card from me, there are several ways of getting one for yourself:
- You could be on my mailing list, and simply wait for the USPS to bring you an old school card via snail mail; that mailing list is only ever growing shorter. Alas, if you're not already on the mailing list... that's probably not going to happen.
- You could connect with me at church (Eastside in Anaheim, CA) or bump into me around town (Placentia, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Brea, Fullerton, etc.); since I’m fully immunized, that is more likely this year than last.
- You could send me an email requesting a pdf of this year's Christmas card, so you can print out your very own 2021 Christmas card (ink, paper, and some assembly required).
- You could forgo all the hassle of tracking me down or the laborious printing and folding chore... and simply experience the online version of the 2021 Christmas card, below:
Redefining Christmastime
By David Alan Hoag - November 20, 2021
(Sung to Defying Gravity, from Wicked)
(Apologies to Stephen Schwartz)
The world has changed around us
Something we’ve never seen
In all the stores and byways, it’s
Christmas at Halloween!
Now there are spooky pumpkins
On sale with Christmas lights
What kind of Christmas season
Starts with Black Friday fights?!?
It’s time for redefining Christmastime
I’ll soon be redefining Christmastime
We should be redefining Christmastime
And focus on Christ’s birth
Black Friday’s a week this year
Retail expects a gain
Though battling snafus of
A broken global supply chain
Certainly, Christmas is not
What’s in my shopping cart
Christ was born, so I could have
Christmas in my heart.
It’s time for redefining Christmastime
I’ll soon be redefining Christmastime
We should be redefining Christmastime
And focus on Christ’s birth
So now I’m redefining Christmastime
Help me with redefining Christmastime
Let’s spread the message of Christ’s birth
So with this babe, God’s awesome gift
God gives us all a loving lift
Of love, and joy, and peace on Earth!
----------
As the world continues to rush headlong
into strife, discord, and disagreement,
I pray that you can re-imagine Christmastime,
and discover the promise of Christmas:
A life embracing the message of Jesus...
A message of Love, and Joy, and Peace on Earth!
I wish you a blessed Christmas.
Dave Hoag
