Friday, 15 December 2023

A Christmas Essay

 


Peaceful or perfect or perhaps even pleasant. None of this will be experienced this Christmas by many. None of this will be experienced this December. None of this will be experienced this year or even, for some, next year and beyond.

Sinister shadows of sorrow are cast all over the world. More than 110 armed conflicts are currently ‘on-the-go’ on our little blue planet and that will be all that can be seen for some. No peace.

The blind indifference to the news is mind blowing. Even I am guilty now of switching channels to not face the reality of life on earth.

War and famine have been around since the dawn of time. The big difference is we didn’t have to know about it throughout five plus thousand years of recorded history. Now the horrors of armed conflict are broadcast, live at times, in our homes. It’s even in our pockets. It can all be seen.

What won’t be seen is the courage that will be on display all over the world in the coming weeks as many see their holiday celebrations marred by misery and mayhem. There’re over ten different celebrations taking place and not one of them is to celebrate war, famine, death, destruction or desire. Not one.

Christians will celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jews celebrate Hanukkah in remembrance of God’s provision. Then there’s Kwanzaa. Buddhism is also celebrated through him attaining enlightenment. It’s a long list.

The power of prayer is strong, as some believe. I can only imagine that power unleashed. What if, at high-noon GMT, on the eve of the Gregorian calendar flipping the page of history to 2024, everyone took a moment, all at the same time, and spent one whole minute focussing on one word: peace. That will be at 07:00AM where I live in Canada. I’m in.  Are you?

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