'Tis normally the time of year when church leaders bemoan and bewail the theft of Christmas by culture and commerce. Nevertheless, I feel there is a startlingly bright flipside to the Grinch.
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As children growing up in communities where Christianity is not the main religion, my friends and I were fascinated by the trappings of the season the magical glitter on Christmas cards, the ubiquitous Christmas tree (every shop and restaurant have at least one, regardless of the faith of the owners) and pictures of ruddy-faced Santa at his jolly best.
The wonder of the season stays with children. Yes, we unashamedly celebrated it pagan-style. But then again, as with all children, fascination leads to curiosity: We asked what is the significance of the season, who are the Christians, who is baby Jesus, and so on. And curiosity leads to learning the true meaning of Christmas.
For greater clarity, and forgive me for packaging an analogy in a commercial context, imagine Christianity as a product and you are charged with making it known far and wide, what's your first step?
Getting people's attention, of course. As a marketing strategy, there is none louder and more attention-getting than the Grinch, with all its myths, secular customs and non-Christian excesses.
For children, pagan Christmas is the gingerbread house in the woods, only, inside there's no wicked witch but the story of salvation, a message of peace and joy and an introduction to the most important person children should know.
Even Grinches have their uses.
