| The Metaphysics of Frosty the Snowman |
| Written by Drs Bil and Cher Holton | |
| Sunday, 14 December 2008 | |
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What do an old silk hat, corn cob pipe, button nose, and boots have in common?? They are all owned by a lump of snow named Frosty, the Snowman.
How are an old silk hat, corn cob pipe, button nose, and boots related?? They all belong to a lump of snow named Frosty, the Snowman. In the popular press, Frosty the Snowman stands for joy. The joy of living. The joy of laughter. The joy of watching children play. The joy of spontaneity. The joy of meaningful work. The joy of doing things with the people you love. Frosty, the Snowman symbolizes all of that. He is joy personified. For most people, the very words Frosty the Snowman bring huge smiles A gleam appears in their eyes. Children ages 3 to 93 identify with Frosty's playfulness and zest for life. However Frosty represents much, much more. Traditionally, when we ready the Biblical Christmas story it's either the Gospel of Matthew or Luke that are used. Both these Gospels contain beautifully-told pieces relating the miraculous birth involving both the Divine and the human. The authors of Matthew and Luke also seek to place the birth of Jesus in a particular historical and cultural setting. Jesus is the son of poor Jewish parents, but is also described as a descendent of Israel's greatest king, King David. His birth is given a definite time and place. But, there is something totally different in Jon. There's no nativity, no shepherds, no Magi, no star in the sky, no heavenly hosts, not even so much as a Mary and Joseph. What you get in John's Gospel instead is some rather esoteric sounding language about something called "The Word:" "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" A few verses later you read, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us" Then, Continuing on, Jesus is suddenly baptized and starts out in his ministry. If John's account were all we had to go on, we might be celebrating Christmas a little differently. What John is saying is the Word became real, became flesh, became incarnatedand became a living, breathing part of us. Christmas is an incarnation story. It is the saga of the Incarnating Christ in all of us. It is the chronicle of our unfolding Christhood. So where does Frosty the Snowman come in Think about it: Frosty came to life one day, dwelt among us and told us It would be back again one day. The metaphor is obvious. Joyfulness, not struggle, is the message. Running and jumping, dancing around in a silk hat, ball cap, boots, sandals or barefooted is the message. We are here to enjoy this Earth experienceto spend this incarnation, happily, healthily and prosperouslyTo dance and play and create and achieve until we melt away. From Frosty, we can learn a new set of "Three R's": I. Release any worries about the future, and put your attention on now. II. Recognize the Source: It's not in your hat - it's in your heart! III. Reaffirm Joy, regardless of what the world of appearance might be! And KNOW that you cannot be separated from your good, from God, because you and God are one! And that is cause for JOY! The Article Author: Drs. Bil & Cher Holton are Spiritual Leaders at Unity Spiritual Life Center in Durham, NC, where they practice positive, practical, progressive Christianity. Visit their website at Unity Spiritual Life Center and sign up to receive a complimentary 4-week e-course. |
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