At Christmas
I don’t care what your religious beliefs are, or are not…or how devoutly or how passively you may follow them. I don’t care if you think of Santa Claus or the Baby Jesus first when December 25th rolls around on the calendar.
And I don’t care what side of the political spectrum you favor, or which candidate’s yard sign you have placed next to the holiday lights in your front yard.
The phrase “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men” should dominate this year, and not just written in glittery script on the face of a greeting card.
The world is in turmoil in so many respects. From a political perspective, our nation is fully divided. Our government is dysfunctional regardless of which party holds the majority. Our manners and behavior in social settings is truly atrocious, and our patience level is truly non-existent. I am grateful that I am not shopping or travelling…because what used to be horror stories about interaction with others is now commonplace.
The world is so upside down, there’s no snow in Iowa and Christmas Day temperatures are forecast to be in the 50s.
That’s the downside. The upside is that through that basic phrase, “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men,” we can change an awful lot of it, starting with our own attitudes. Often when we expect the worst, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So for just a moment…enjoy a moment of peace. Then perhaps extend that to a second moment, or an encounter, or a broader way of thinking.
These days, there’s not much we can control. But we can control that. And for those who see Christmas as the day where everything good in the world is possible…hold on to that feeling beyond that day.
Especially since I understand the return line at the store the next day is long, and bargain hunters take their game seriously.
Peace to you all…today and beyond.
