'That word' (below-hyperlinked to the latest 'hop' on my lifelong "Church-Hopping" Tour) is built on an even-deeper source ... something crucial that firms the foundation upon which our lexicon stands ...
The word “Lesson” is built on ancient words that mean "to Collect, |Gather" (with derivatives meaning "to Speak (to Pick Out Words)").
St. Luke's Methodist Church broadcasts a new sermon every week (on a 'paid announcement' on local television). And this week was ... a Christmas-sermon.
Of course (as it's currently Summertime), part of that sermon was 'how you should live like it's Christmas all year long.' But the preacher's source for this message was not The Bible, but the Elf (a movie based on the traditional myth of Santa Claus).
That led the preacher to the stories of Thomas Meehan (who wrote a TV-special based on Elf, beside writing the musical Annie, Hairspray & a SPACEBALLS-musical) and -of Will Ferrell (the comedian who–prior to starring as Buddy the non-elf of Elf–was one of the best-ever members of 'The Not-Ready-for-Primetime Players' (the cast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE)).
I could review the point-or-two the preacher mined from those stories, but the lesson that struck my mind (especially in this 'History-ruining' culture—where we're always learning that "'the history we were taught as children' isn't 'what actually happened'") was that 'the truth that matters today' isn't necessarily "something that actually occurred in reality."
'Thomas Meehan's- and Will Ferrill's-careers' actually happened. But most of the stories that they tell us didn't. And 'the Christmas story'—well, I'm not going to say "it didn't happen"; but a) it happened 'somewhat-differently than The Bible recounts it' and b) no 'words attributed to Lord Jesus Himself' ever encouraged us to celebrate His birthday (and we only celebrate 'His birth of a woman' in order to make His sacrifice worthy of paying-for-our-sin-nature).
I could go into 'how that violates the Commandment against "bearing false witness"'; but a) I think that the Commandment only applies to 'testifying against the accused defendant in court,' and b) The Truth we're learning (The Lesson) isn't directly tied to 'whether things actually happened that way.'
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