The Meaning of Christmas

Post #24 

Today is Christmas Day.  Whether or not it is a holiday you celebrate, many people will be spending a day off from work with their families.* 

On this day, we celebrate “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All” and feel loving and charitable as many exchange gifts or tear open those delivered by various “Secret Santas.”  So, how are we doing as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated by Christians around the world?

First, we obviously don’t have peace.  Brave American soldiers are at risk around the world and continue to be returned to their loved ones in pine boxes.  Terrorism, border skirmishes, hostage-taking, and the reckless use of firearms threaten families at home and around the world.  While President Obama has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize for his early outreach efforts to other countries, we have a very long way to go to realize a more peaceful world.

‘Goodwill to All’ is another lofty goal that we are far from achieving.  Whether it’s the unanimous NO vote on health care by the Republicans in the U.S. Senate or the rise in rudeness in online debates (including my own Facebook page!), we are an increasingly divided country.  It seems a challenge for many to even disagree in a respectful manner and really hear what their opponents are saying.

Empathy and charity are sometimes supplanted by a myopic focus inward and denial of others’ suffering.  Did you know that according to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, there were 1150 homeless people in Montgomery County-- of which 272 were children?  This was in January of 2008; surely the numbers are worse now.  Interfaith Works assisted over 6,000 low-income and homeless families and provided clothing to over 18,000 individuals last year.  Finally, despite our wealth, the Developmental Disabilities Coalition found that Maryland ranks 43rd among states in our spending on developmental disabilities services.  The burden on families and underpaid staffers is difficult to imagine.

As we celebrate our time with loved ones in a warm and safe home, let’s remember that we have a great distance to go before we can truly accomplish what people describe as “the spirit of Christmas.”  Perhaps we can all do our part toward achieving these goals in the coming year.

*I’d like to acknowledge the hard-working and committed firefighters, police officers and other public safety personnel who are working to keep us all safe today and every day.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How can each of us personally help achieve these lofty ideals?  What holiday values can we work to maintain year-round?    You may send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#24) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.