[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

O Christmas tree. This traditional icon of Christmas has a mixed history. My parents did not have a Christmas tree when I was growing up, but her family did. Why? Is it reasonable or rational? This discussion will likely bristle the fur on some, but listen to it all the way through. Then we can have a cup of hot chocolate with a twist of honey and maybe cinnamon if that is your thing.

I am a fan of Victorian genteel manners, about yes sir and deferring to the lovely sex, even allowing them to go through a door before men.

But have mercy, their clothes were oppressive. I think the gentleman cane was very cool, and have one that I use occasionally, with a polished beechwood shaft and a chrome plated brass handle. But the tails and top hat do not fit Oklahoma winds and weather. I cannot climb on the tractor or bulldozer with that headgear and have never seen one in camo or white-tail orange. Their clothing is jettisoned.

As a carry-over, Dad never worn jeans. He affirmed they were less couth. In his tradition, there are no jeans in my closet.

Much of conservative Christian practices are rooted in the Victorian era which arose after the War between the States. These deep-rooted traditions persist to this day. Some even take Biblical admonitions and massage them to fit the traditions. Such was Dad’s interpretation of the Christmas tree.

The story arises from Tanakh writer Jeremiah at 10:1-5 and a similar passage by Isaiah. The Jeremiah verses are parenthetical as he is warning of the impending exile. This is what the NET translation of the Hebrew says. “They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you….”

It does look like a similar practice, but the purpose was totally different. It is like the admonition on food. It is good to eat, but do not offer to idols.

Long before Jeremiah, the evergreen cedars of Lebanon were cut down, shaped by craftsmen, hauled to Jerusalem, installed in the temple, and overlaid with gold. That hallowed use did not make them idols.

Jeremiah ends with ‘Do not be afraid of them, the gold overlay tree cannot hurt or help you.’ That is the key phrase.

I know of no one who worships the trees, other than a simple song of “Oh, Christmas Tree.” It is okay to craft pretty things from natural resources. I really enjoy the home my bride of many decades makes for us.

Let us go a step further. The evergreen is just that, ever green. It shows life in a brown, largely lifeless looking winter.

We were both raised in Louisiana where pine trees dominated the landscape. In this part of ‘Green Country’ there are very few evergreens, except in recent years the invasive eastern red cedar.

According to the state biologist, the ranch has seven discrete micro-climates. The lower level along the mostly dry creek has typical eastern forest woods like massive walnut. The steep eastern slope has humongous cottonwood, closely related to the aspen of New Mexico. The western plateau is plagued with the obnoxious winged elm. The middle pond area has hackberry and American elm. The north slope has sycamore and persimmon. The chapel venue region has gorgeous red oak and phenomenal redbud. The ravines and middle plateau is the cross-timbers of hickory with post, blackjack, and scrub oaks. But there are no native pines.

Consequently, after purchase from the state Forestry Services, we have planted 150 short leaf and Virginia pines. Where the survivors have taken good root, we now have 15-foot pine trees. Some are not as prosperous in the rocky parts of the mountain. Does my love of pine trees count as worship in the high places? Of course not.

That establishes an appreciation for the evergreen tree. So not surprisingly, we appreciate Christmas trees with a forest of seven in our library.

The tree is not the thing.

Think about it. Christmas. The word itself simply says worship the Messiah. Have fun. There is hope again. You are the dominant culture, even though others may be louder at times.