Reel Christmas

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Give Gifts of Time, Not Just Treasure
In 1996's "Jingle All the Way," Arnold Schwarzenegger embarks on every father's nightmare: he's promised his son a gift that's been sold out for weeks, and lied to his wife by saying he already had it. In the end, he secures the Turbo Man action figure--but discovers what his son really wanted all along: a relationship with his dad, the real action hero in his life. And as that relationship is restored to its rightful place, the contented son can give the coveted turbo-man action figure away. As nice as gifts and presents are, am I giving the gift that my family and close friends really want and need: time?

Have Yourself an Imperfect Christmas
National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation" pokes fun at the mishaps in a harried family's holiday celebration. In a performance-driven, high-efficiency world, it's good to be reminded that no one is perfect and that love is not conditioned on perfection. Can I learn to laugh at my flaws, rather than press for the ideal holiday?

Look to Linus
The 1965 TV classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" broke all the rules when Linus recited the Nativity story from the Gospel of Luke. Here was a Christmas cartoon in which the Christmas story was actually told. Have I read the story lately or shared it with those I love?

Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie or cartoon, From "Babes in Toyland" to "The Bells of St. Mary's"; "Christmas in Connecticut" to "Christmas in South Park"; "The Bishop's Wife" to "The Preacher's Wife"; "The Night Before Christmas" to "Surviving Christmas"; "Mickey's Christmas" to "A Garfield Christmas"; "Santa Claus" to "The Santa Clause"; "Scrooge" to "Scrooged." Even "Die Hard II" and "Fitzwilly" (a morality tale worth finding) count, because significant wrongs are righted on Christmas Eve.

Whatever our preferences, we can move past asking "did I like it?" and ask instead, "how does it speak to my life spiritually?" Perhaps it will lead me to a time of reading or prayer that helps me become the kind of person I long to be, the kind of person movies get made about. Not just a character, but a person of character.