Holy Days

Holidays. What are some of the words that immediately come to mind? Vacation? Family? Shopping? Food? How about holiness? Honestly, holiness would not have been the first word that came to my mind either. Yet, essentially, that is what the holidays are about.
The word holiday comes from the Old English halig daeg, or holy day. Holy Days have traditionally been days in which children of God, whatever their religious tradition might be, are asked to be particularly aware of God's universal call to be holy. Holiness is a journey toward the good, toward transformation, toward Heaven, and in both the Hebrew and Greek language, holiness has two aspects to it: separation and union.
First, we are called to be separate from the world of darkness, where one lives a selfish, confused, ultimately directionless life, apart from God. Then, we are called to an ever-deepening relationship with the God of Love, His will for our lives, and His hope for the world He loves beyond words.
Unfortunately, holiness has not appeared to be a very attractive calling. Holiness has mistakenly been associated with words like judgemental, condescending, and escapist. "Holy rollers" and "holier than thou" attitudes give many the sense that "holiness" is about rules, perfectionism, and a lack of concern for those who are "outsiders." No wonder so many have trouble with the word holy.
Holiness is so much easier to recognize than it is to describe.
While I was in seminary, Jenni and I lived next door to a Chinese-American family. Our first week as neighbors, the Yens invited us over for dinner and when "Grandma" found out that I was a seminarian she asked me privately, in her best English, if I might do her a favor. Would I read her favorite Bible verses into her tape recorder so that she could listen to them in her free time?
Why did this 80 year-old woman make such a request? Was she practicing her English? No. Was she trying to look more "Biblical" in the eyes of her family and friends? No. Did she appear unbalanced, rigid, compulsive? Hardly. Her mind was sharp, her manner was joyful, and her eyes were filled with charity. I told her I would gladly do this for her, but awkwardly asked her why. She explained that she didn't speak or read English well, and her church was Chinese-speaking. She wanted to listen to her favorite verses in English because it was not nearly as familiar to her as her native Mandarin. Thus, she would have to listen "very closely."
Oh how different this world would be if more people listened “very closely” to the gentle urging of God…to be loving, truthful, gentle, kind, generous, and self-sacrificing.
Grandma gave me a wonderful example of what holiness really is, and I remember her in a special way this holiday season; this season of holy days. She now hears God's voice most clearly, and sings with the choirs of Heaven. May we hear those choirs of saints and angels during this season of miracles, and recognize in a new way how close God is to us throughout the year.
Let’s remember what this season of holiness is really all about….new beginnings, transformation, and hope! Let’s take inspiration and put it into action, re-commit ourselves to personal growth and healing, and bring light to our hurting world.