Leaning Into the Christmas Season

I miss Christmas. And church too. I realized this yesterday when I Googled images of Advent wreathes for the seminary's Advent service bulletin I was asked to design. As soon as I saw photos of Advent candles, with twinkling lights and religious icons in the darkened backgrounds, I had a very distinct and comforting memory of sitting in a pew at Resurrection Lutheran Church, quietly waiting with anticipation as someone from the congregation lit the first Advent candle with a long-stemmed, brass lighter, thin curls of gray smoke spiraling up, up toward the high ceiling. It seemed like the whole congregation held their breath until the candle actually lit--and stayed lit. An advent hymn played softly on the organ and our pastor read a scripture in his deep voice. I remember thinking, "Just four weeks until Christmas!"  It was a quiet calm before the most exciting day of the year, one that would be filled with cookies and candy, gifts and torn wrapping paper, bright-colored Christmas lights and loud carols, family all laughing and talking over each other.

Each Sunday of Advent was like that, anticipation growing stronger as Christmas was another week closer. Christmas Eve was the most special, the most exciting--yet comforting--most magical service, when the larger, white center candle was finally lit.  The Christmas Eve candlelight service, when children wore angels' gowns and halos, with the scent of burning wax filling our heads, flickering flames reflected in the huge stained glass window, a duet of organ and piano music keeping tempo as the congregation sang the first verse and chorus of the most familiar Christmas hymns. I followed the bulletin closely to see how close we were to finishing, because as soon as the service was over we would hurry home to open a few family presents, before going to bed and lying wide awake, wondering what we would find under the Christmas tree the next morning.

Today I'm obsessing about those Advent wreathes and candles, the smell of evergreen, candle wax, and smoke, when the flaming wicks were put out with that bell-shaped candle snuffer at the end of the service. I don't know if I knew back then the significance of the Advent wreath and candles. If I did, I have forgotten. But yesterday, when the images of those candles ignited my longing for both Christmas and church, I Googled the meaning:

From Wikipedia:

"Advent wreaths are circular, representing God's infinite love and are usually made of evergreen leaves, which "represent the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ". Within the Advent wreath are candles that generally represent the four weeks of the Advent season as well as "the light of God coming into the world through the birth of Jesus Christ" although each of the candles has its own significance as well; individually, the candles specifically symbolize the Christian concepts of hope (week one), peace (week two), joy (week three) and love (week four) in many traditions. Many Advent wreaths also have a white candle in the centre to symbolize the arrival of Christmastide, sometimes known as the "Christ candle." It is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day."

After reading this I was reminded of why I don't like Christmas anymore. The holiday has morphed into something so big, so ugly, so busy, so hectic, so removed from Advent and what the Advent wreath and candles symbolize.

The season has become a two-month long hectic marathon, completely overrun with big sales, shopping trips, present wrapping, work parties, home decorating, and school programs. Parents have become completely stressed out thinking they have to buy everything on their kids' lists for Santa.  It's become rush, rush, rush, buy, buy, buy, followed by the fear of disappointing the ones we love.

Maybe it was that way back then. Maybe my parents were doing all that running and stressing, spending two months trying to create a perfect Christmas for us girls.  But I doubt it. I think the countdown to Christmas started closer to December 1st, the week the first advent candle, the candle of hope, was lit.

I miss the Christmas I used to know, a calmer, shorter, holiday season filled with candle flames, evergreen boughs, and "Silent Night" sung on a dark, snowy night, with time to rest and focus on what really matters. I'm thinking I can have that kind of Christmas again, and I can share it with others who miss it too. All we need to do is "lean into the Light" a bit, take some time away from the hustle and bustle, find a space where we can focus on the concept of hope, peace, joy and love, and guard ourselves from getting too caught up in the frenzied, commercial Christmas hype. Even if you  decide to "do it all" or "do it big", because you enjoy that and love the Christmas hoopla, I hope you chose to take a few moments to sit in a quiet place, light a candle, and meditate on the true meaning of the season.

Job Search Advice

For nine years I worked in a college career center and had come to assume there is a

"common sense" when it comes to job searches, but an experience I had eight years ago

taught me differently.  I was working in the front office of a small manufacturing facility in

Hagerstown when the owners advertised for a few open production positions.  In just three

days I handed out and accepted over 300 applications, which meant I had the opportunity

to observe and interact with over 300 applicants.  One would think the people desperate for

jobs would realize they should offer a good first impression and should avoid putting any

obstacles in the prospective employer's path, but I learned that's not so.

Here are a few of my thoughts about what I observed, and some advice:

1. Don't bring your family with you. Don't let your kids run around the waiting room, climb

on your lap, and play all the ring tones on your phone. Don't let your wife help you fill out

the application.

2. Read the sign on the door, and also the one posted on the window (and also the ad in the

newspaper) that tells you when you can and can not apply. If you come during a time when

you aren't supposed to apply (because the company is short staffed at that time), don't ask

if you can anyway. Don't pretend you don't see the sign or that you can't read it. Employers

don't want employees who can't follow directions or read, or who expect special treatment.

3. Don't complain if you are told you have to complete the application in the waiting room,

not in your car (we want to make sure you, not your girlfriend, can complete it). Employers

need to make sure their prospective employees can read and write. They don't want

employees who complain when they are given instructions.

4. Don't complain if there are fewer chairs than people in the waiting room and you have to

stand up to complete the application, especially if the 200 people before you didn't

complain. Employers don't want employees who are negative or who won't put effort into

their work.

5. Do not wear clothing with paint splatters or grease stains, or that smell strongly of

smoke, body odor, or gasoline. Please wipe the mud, or whatever that brown stuff is, off

your feet before entering. The other 10 people standing with you in the waiting room will

be grateful if you wear fresh clothing.

6. Don't wear t-shirts that advertise nude dancing or that have pictures of marijuana plants.

Also don't dress as if you are heading to the night club. Wear clean, neat clothing that you

would wear to work. For a factory job that might mean jeans and a plain t-shirt, polo, or

button down shirt, with clean tennis shoes or work boots.

7. Don't ask if you really need phone numbers for your references. Don't ask if you really

need to fill in the employment history if you have your resume. Make it as easy as possible

for the employer to scan your work history and contact your references. Don't put any

obstacles in their way.

8. Don't ask the employer to make copies of your resume, work permits, certifications, test

scores, or anything else. Bring extra copies of all these to attach to your application.

Employers really appreciate these supplements, but not when they have to pay to copy

them.

9. Don't ask for a phone book so you can look up the phone numbers for your references or

former employers. Have your list of references and employers (with the dates you worked

there) and their phone numbers ready ahead of time. Employers want employees who

think ahead and come prepared.

10. Don't ask if the employer will hire someone who has committed a felony, but if the

question is asked on the application, answer it honestly. Don't leave the answer blank

because the employer will assume you have committed a felony and are trying to hide it.

11. Don't be rude in any way. Smile, say please, say thank you. A person who has handed

out and accepted hundreds of applications in three days will not appreciate rudeness and

may bury rude applicant's materials at the bottom of the pile.

12. Don't call the very next day to check on your application. Don't call every day for the

next 2 weeks, 2 months, or 6 months. When you turn in your application, ask when the

employer expects to begin making calls for interviews. At that time, call once to check on

your application. If you haven't heard in a week, call again. If the employer hires other

people but not you, or hasn't hired anyone yet still advertises for the position, ask the

employer to let you know what qualifications you are lacking. Quit calling.

13. Don't expect "I really, really need a job bad!" to trump the qualifications of all the good

applicants, then get mad when others with direct experience are hired and you are not.

In summary, dress in fresh, neat clothing. Be prepared. Follow directions. Smile and be

polite. Don't complain and do anything to take up the employer's time and effort. Make

your first impression that of a model employee, and don't do anything to make the

employer want to throw your application in the "no" pile as soon as you walk

out the door.