Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

For those of you who are Christians and those who aren’t but who recognize the spirit of the holiday, Merry Christmas.  For those of all other religions or no religion, Happy Holidays.  The Christmas holiday, as most of you probably know, has origins long before the birth of Jesus on or near this day.  It is no accident that that event occurred at the winter solstice, when the period of daylight is shortest and the darkness is greatest.  Ancient peoples understood that in the Northern Hemisphere, from this time forth there would be more light and less darkness.  And the holidays, or holy days, that were established around this period were to celebrate that–more light, less darkness.

One of my favorite holiday sayings is Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men.  We need more peace on earth; I am increasingly struck by the phenomenal waste of human and material wealth in ceaseless destructive conflicts.  Humanity as a whole must find a way to stop this.  It is not hard to imagine what could be accomplished by all those people who would not be killed or wounded and all that money that could go to constructive uses.  And we need more good will, more empathy, more understanding, which might prevent some of those violent conflicts.

As always, I am thankful for all the readers, and listeners, who contribute so much, and I truly wish you all a warm holiday in the embrace of family, friends, church or wherever you may find comfort and hope.