I know this is going to come as a shock, but I have some thoughts about Christmas.

     As the Christmas tree goes up in the Grand Entry, 102.5 starts playing Christmas music, and everyone is still buzzing about Christmas Banquet, it’s hard not to think about this all-consuming American holiday.

       Christmas has two sides. There’s the secular side–Santa and his elves and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer–and the Christian side–that Jesus Christ was born and this is the celebration of his life and death on earth so that we might live. Often times, we confuse which one is more important.

     In this oh-so-wonderful time of year, our minds immediately go to the presents awaiting us under the tree. My guess is Westminster students want things like A’s on their finals, snow days, and a long Christmas break.

     But what do Westminster students need? Quite simply, we need a break. We need a time to rest from school and recharge, to focus our hearts on God, and re-motivate for the upcoming semester.

     At the moment, Westminster wants a Santa Claus. We want a figure that will give us whatever we want and help tie up our perfect little lives in a bow. For a school that has Christian in its name, this may be surprising, but it really shouldn’t be. We live in a want-based society. Christmas is one of the most economic times of the year.

     I’m not here to point a finger and call us all materialists who need to sell everything and give it to the poor. I think the problem is in our hearts. We confuse the void of need with a hole that can be filled with satisfying wants. Christmas is the epitome of a time we satisfy temporary wants rather than lifelong needs.

     Santa Claus gives us what we want. Jesus Christ gives us what we need. And since you’ve heard it all before at least a thousand times, I won’t reiterate how much we all need Jesus. But during break, instead of numbing your mind and binge-watching Netflix for thirteen hours straight, take an hour. Make a list. Write down your wants. Then write down your needs. Ask yourself who you’re looking to for satisfaction.