December 2024

Six weeks until Christmas, and Santa dropped out, our emcee was stepping down, and the Night-of Coordinator couldn't commit. Oh, and the Christmas tree is dying.

Our neighborhood has a longstanding tradition (104 years, to be exact): On Christmas Eve, neighbors gather at the end of the street under a big spruce tree strung with colored lights. 

Song sheets are handed out as the crowd begins singing “Deck the Halls,” then “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and so on. 

Children jostle for the best view, listening intently for the sound of sleigh bells in the distance, eyes wide when they catch that first glimpse of Santa stepping out of the woods, a red velvet sack slung over his shoulder. He comes with gifts for all the children and calls them up by name.

It’s pretty magical. 

But this year, everything seemed to be going wrong.

First, Santa dropped out.

“I might be out of town for Christmas this year, so I just can’t commit,” he said, standing on the doorstep, red suit in hand, under a late October sky.

Then, the emcee (of 23 years) said she’d like to step down. As the chair of the committee, I found someone willing to lead the event, but he wanted to change the songs, the reading, the order—everything that makes this event so special. The committee pushed back, but this only created more tension.

Then, the Night-of Coordinator told me it was too much: “It’s too hard to get everyone fed, dressed, to mass, and back in time,” she said.

I guess I can do it? I thought to myself, looking at the calendar.

Then, there’s the Christmas tree—a 40’ spruce at the end of the street (it's like a life-size Charlie Brown tree). You may remember me talking a few years ago about the squirrel who chewed through the strand so only the bottom half of the tree lit up.

This year, when we plugged in the star, it shorted out the power strip. Then, someone ran over the outlet where the tree plugs in leaving the whole thing dark that night.

But despite all the setbacks, I started to see the magic of Christmas come alive:

• A neighbor worked to repair the outlet and get the tree back on.

• Another donated a power strip to get the star working.

• After making 10 personal invitations with no luck, a friend put us in touch with a professional Santa (like, the Santa at the mall). He has a real beard and little round glasses and everything. And he’s willing to volunteer his time on Christmas Eve.

^^ This is why we work so hard to keep this tradition alive.

The same is true in our work as musicians and teachers. Keep showing up. Even when it’s hard, even when things go wrong, even when it feels like you’re the only one who cares.

Keep tradition alive, but also embrace spontaneity. Be willing to try something new (especially if the old way isn’t working). Look for creative solutions.

But most of all?

Look for joy—in the connections and relationships, in the shared experiences, in the moments of delight, peace, and hope you can create for others.

Because isn’t that what this season—and our work—is all about?

Wishing you all the joy (and peace) of the season,