There’s a lot of really good Christmas movies this time of year such as It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer — but my favorite movie  is one that, to me, envelopes the entire holiday season. A Charlie Brown Christmas.

 

The movie has it all. It depicts a boy (Charlie) who is suffering from depression (which a lot of people do this time of year) and he is dismayed by the commercialism of Christmas  (aren’t we all?) and his inability to grasp what Christmas is all about.

 

What is decided — through Charlie’s visit to the psychiatrist (Lucy) — is Charlie needs to be “more involved” so he is tasked to direct a Christmas play.

 

Isn’t that the way it is? Instead of slowing our lives down and experiencing the sights, sounds and feelings of the season, instead we try and “do more” to make ours — and others— Christmases better. This kind of thinking only makes us even more dismayed, just like Charlie Brown was.

 

As Charlie takes over the reins of the play, he soon realizes he lacks the skill to control the uncooperativeness of his friends and family (hmmm, sound familiar?) and sulks some more. Instead of releasing the reins and freeing his plate, Charlie decides he can solve the problem by supplanting the auditorium with a “big, shiny Christmas tree.”

 

Again, the lesson here is to lessen the stress, not add to it.

 

Charlie and Linus are sent to seek, seize and bring home a Christmas tree that will “wow” the gang.

 

Isn’t that how we all act this time of year? Identifying Christmas with the grandest tree, the most presents or the most beautiful light shows on our homes?

 

At the tree lot, amongst the hundreds of artificial, man-made trees — Charlie Brown finds a small sapling which is the only real tree on the lot. Against the urging of Linus, Charlie decides the tree would be perfect if only it was decorated and shown some love.

 

Of course, after he returns to the auditorium with the diminutive shrub, he gets laughed at.

 

How many times have we tried to go against tradition and instead received ridicule? How many times have our best intentions been spit on and laughed at?

 

At his lowest, Charlie Brown mopes from his mocking adversaries and ultimately pleads for understanding of the situation at hand.

 

“Does anybody really know what Christmas is all about?” he asks.

 

Don’t we sometimes still ask that question in our heads this time of year? Do we really have a grasp what the “reason for the season” is all about?

 

Linus knew.

 

In one of the most poignant moments of any Christmas movie — right alongside George Bailey’s conversion in It’s a Wonderful Life — Linus stops the hustle and bustle of the season by quoting scripture, reminding everyone the day is for remembering the birth of a Savior, not concerning oneself with trees, lights, decorations or presents.

 

And just like the Grinch’s heart in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charlie Brown’s heart receives the message and his eyes are opened.

 

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

 

 

 

 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”

 

Linus nails it.

 

“...That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”