By Caritas Puella
While blooms are still on the Poinsettia and the Mistletoe has not yet lost its charming spell, a powerful thought comes to mind: What if the world were like Christmas every day?
With months-long hustle and bustle of preparing for one glorious holiday, all of a sudden everything comes to a rapturous halt for much of the world on Christmas Day. All those prettily wrapped presents are torn into with overflowing expectations; kiddies desperately try to master their new toys and games; lovers exchange secret smiles for that sparkling diamond ring that foretells their coming union; while preachers and people of good will everywhere exchange “Peace on Earth.”
The magic of Christmas is overwhelming in some ways. Listening to stories gathered by news reporters, one realizes just how much goodwill and generosity are ingratiated toward others. There is an automobile dealer in the Plains States of the United States of America who, this Christmas, will donate 300 cars to needy persons. There are food and toy collection drop off points just about everywhere. Folks from the Jewish faith stand in for hospital shifts for folks of the Christian faith. Walking down the street or in a mall, when folks eyes meet they say, “Happy Holidays; Merry Christmas.” This is heady and powerful stuff! But why? Because the human heart collectively is uplifting itself to offer a peaceful thought wishing others peace, goodness and joy.
Take a moment to ponder that. Persons of good will from different faiths send out holiday greeting cards; exchange gifts; and celebrate together joyfully while gathered at Christmas parties. But why all this merriment at Christmas and not in May or August? It’s all about remembering—and celebrating—the coming of a baby boy in Bethlehem over two millennia ago who preached love, goodness, compassion and forgiveness, something humans want to emulate but have difficulty with—at least for most of us—except at Christmas.
So, maybe we should consider what the possibilities could be if we were to commemorate Christmas Day every day—not with all the festivities and gifts—but only with the good will and love that goes into planning for and delighting in Christmas Day.
To my way of thinking, there’s an awful lot of wasted energy put into only one day. Wouldn’t it be “politically correct,” “cost effective,” and “energy efficient,” if we were to recycle all that good will into the other 364 days so that nothing is wasted in letting our goodness and light overcome war, poverty, injustice, and darkness? Then maybe the anthem Let There Be Peace on Earth could be fulfilled in its next verse: Let it begin with me.
Let’s make 2008 the Year of Peace regardless of political persuasion, religious creed, or geographical location. We’re all one family. We’re all brothers and sisters in one 6 billion-member family of the Creator.
The video wil make it come true!