MERRY CHRISTMAS!
After the year we've had, all of us could stand to take respite in a happy holiday.
In my part of the world, this is the time of year when the days are shortest, when darkness stubbornly yields well after the beginning of the workday and overwhelms the cold, gray skies before dinner time.
Yet, it is also a special time of year when we are called to promote good will toward our fellow humans and do our part, however small, to promote peace on earth. The colorful decorations and beautiful Christmas music counteract the gloomy weather. It is the time of year when Christians are buoyed by the celebration of the birth of Jesus — the ultimate gift from God, which inspired the gift-giving tradition of the holiday.
Our nation has been through a harrowing year, and conservatives across the land are shell-shocked with disheartening attacks on liberty, religion and the rule of law. Admittedly, I can be pretty pessimistic myself.
But prayer is the best response. Prayer, I tell myself, is like exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep. It's something one must commit to regularly to reap its benefits. Christians believe that, ultimately, God is in control. Those of us who get jaded and exasperated, or discouraged and depressed, must never forget the real meaning of this holiday.
I don't normally "preach" in this blog, nor do I profess to be a scriptural scholar or even frequent reader of the Bible. But a few verses stand out in my mind, and this one, from the book of Romans (Chapter 8, verses 38 and 39), is reassuring when the world seems to be running down:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When I realize I've spent too much time reading angry blogs, editorials and op/eds; and devoted too much attention to conservatives on talk radio; when cynicism and derision for politicians overwhelm me; I stop and check myself. My wife and I have jobs, benefits, our health and home. There's never any shortage of healthy and delicious food. The same for my son and daughter-in-law. We live in the greatest country in the world.
Millions are not so lucky, having suffered the loss of loved ones to COVID-19, or perhaps suffering the disease themselves. Many have lost their businesses and livelihoods, and are wracked by financial problems. I've tried to be as generous as I can contributing to various charities, and I keep these poor souls in my prayers.
At some point, we need to savor the blessings and enjoy the comforts of family and holiday festivities. This doesn't mean we're callused toward the suffering going on in the world. It speaks to a healthy balance; an awareness that we ourselves need to be in good physical, mental and spiritual shape if we want to help those less fortunate. While I will never forget the suffering that has gone on long before I was born, and will continue long after I'm gone, I will also embrace the good Lord's blessings.
Merry Christmas to you and yours from the Posse. May you find some quality time to spend with loved ones, and manage to enter 2021 renewed and refreshed, more optimistic than before about the challenges ahead.
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