Christmas

     It seems to me that it's more acceptable to be a Christian, a believer in God, a church-goer at this time of year. Most of the time I feel like we are the minority in the world, as I am sure that we are--- church attendance is continually declining. At Christmas time though, it seems like almost everyone can sing about Baby Jesus and the joy of His birth, whether they believe or not. Maybe I am just being cynical and there is a lot more of us out there than I realize. Or perhaps at Christmas, the possibility of faith is closer to us all because the story is one of simple poignancy: a child, a star, a peace that could overcome all of our differences and make us one. Maybe at this time of year some of us yearn to be part of something bigger than ourselves, even if we fail to understand it the rest of the year.
      Is there more giving in December, more hope, more reconciliation? Do folks reach out a little more then, act more charitably, try a little harder to love their neighbour? I think so. It's a shame that we can't be those people every day of the year. But if Christmas, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, December make us love one another a little more, give to each other a bit more, if it makes us look around us and realize how blessed we are, then great. Really truly great.
    I haven't always but I love Christmas now. My favourite Christmas memory is of waking up years ago, to the sound of our two young daughters singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain" from their bunk beds, quite unsolicited, quite unexpectedly, very joyously. And that is why for me Christmas is about children, our children, the children we were, the children in the world who need us, all of us and the child: the child, the star, the peace.
Happy Christmas to you and to yours....