Christmas overindulgence is a symptom

I remember Christmas specials when I was a child. As a family we'd gather in front of the television with popcorn, Christmas cookies, and so on to watch Charlie Brown, the Grinch, Rudolph, Mr. Magoo's version of A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, the variety shows of Bing Crosby and Andy Williams and others.

Those show were broadcast only once during the Christmas season, so we'd look forward to them, plan our schedules around them, and savor them as we watched.

They were indeed "special."

But with the arrival and spread of cable and multiple networks, the old favorites began being shown again and again and again. Now, some are even shown in 24-hour marathons. 

Sadly, those specials have become not-so-special. Indeed, they have become so familiar they've become, well, boring.

As a fan of Christmas, I lament what has happened. But even more, I see it as symptomatic of what has become common in our culture.

We have so many things that used to be special and precious that are now banal and almost meaningless due to overindulgence. I remember, for example, when a trip to a drive-in/fast food diner for fish and fries or a burger and fries was an event. Now some people go to those places on a daily basis - to the detriment of their budgets and their waistlines.

We have to keep pushing for more and more as we try to satisfy a longing for something that is special and meaningful - and we grow more and more dissatisfied. This is true of movies and television shows and food, and, sadly, of relationships.

It would be nice if those special things were special again, instead of just more of the same.

Pax et bonum