When Michael Palin isn’t making people laugh with his Monty Python friends, he has been traveling the world. Since 1998, he has been making documentaries of his wanderings. The travelogues don’t simply hit the highlights. Instead, Palin takes the time to meet people and hear their stories. I remember one particular episode when he visited Japan.
Mr. Watanabe is the proprietor of a restaurant in Tokyo. Every morning, the man places three piles of salt in the street in front of his restaurant. Apparently, the practice dates back over a hundred years. When farmers would bring their cows to town, the cows would stop to lick the salt. The farmer, having extra time on his hands, would notice the restaurant. Thus, sales were increased. One hundred years ago, it was a clever marketing tool.
Today, in hyper-urban Tokyo, it is merely habit or a tradition. Call me crazy, but I think such traditions are a good thing. Traditions help us maintain connections to people and places long gone. They suggest that life is more than our moment in time. I would guess that most Americans would probably disagree with me. Pouring salt in the street seems a waste of time and salt. Instead, we are wired to focus on the “new and improved.” Still, even Americans find ourselves sentimental at a time like this. During the Christmas season, our minds turn to habits and patterns long established. This is the one time a year that we don’t mind sharing our lives with the past.
One tradition prevalent for many at this time of the year is attending worship. We come back to church, and we hear ancient stories and sing old songs. For once, we aren’t embarrassed that things proud that things look the same as they did when we were children. I would never trade the tradition of the holidays, but I wonder if we are missing something. Is it possible that we have fallen in love with the things of God, rather than God himself? In the poetry of Luke’s gospel, in the familiarity of Silent Night, and in the pageantry of the candlelight service, we sometimes forget the real purpose.
Christmas is about a God who entered history, and nothing, not even death, could stop him. Our traditions point to a reality beyond sentimentality. Our worship does not venerate the dead who remain safely dead. In fact, we worship a living God who claims our very lives. Discipleship is more than putting salt on the streets.
Grace & Peace,
James Hodsden
Pastor 139 