Christmas is over? – 12/27/2007
Are you willing … to own, that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness … to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings …? Then you can keep Christmas.–Henry van Dyke
So, I have written and re-written this particular rant and each time it has been more cynical and wrought with furor over things that are absolutely beyond my control. And it usually ended with me venting my frustrations at the hypocrisy of certain groups of people who purport to be about peace, love and understanding, but are among the least peaceful, loving or understanding groups in the world.
Then I realized something. That’s not what Christmas is about. It’s not about infighting and calling people out on their stupidity. It’s not even really about “the birth of Jesus” or religion anymore. That’s something that a small group of people put on in a few hundred years ago.
No, Christmastime is about one thing: The Future.
When you think of Christmas, what do you think of? Kids opening presents. Or maybe yourself as a kid opening presents. That’s the older generation giving the world to their kids. It may have started out being a symbol for the Three Kings bringing Gold, Frankenstein and Mayo, but that’s not what it is anymore.
And that’s why I make this plea to everyone within the reach of my virtual voice: look to the future. Don’t forget about it. Don’t keep saying, “Weren’t times so much better back then? Why can’t we go back to those values?” Because we can’t. Things have changed too much to go back. I know a lot of people would really love us to, but it’s impossible.
This is why we need to change things for the better. Not so that we can reap the benefits now. But so our kids don’t have to clean up our messes. And so that they can live a real life without being frightened of global warming or wars with people they have no personal problem with.
We need to teach our kids that it’s ok to love people in another country. We need them to understand that it’s ok to talk their problems through instead of just picking up a gun. And we need them to know that peace IS the answer and that someday everyone will figure this out. There may be some crazy people in charge right now, but they won’t be for long. And hopefully the next crew will be more future oriented than that last and we can finally get over this hump we’ve been stuck on for seven years.
You see, about 2000 years ago there was a guy who said some pretty good things about peace and love. And, as much as I kind of reject the WAY his thoughts are taught, I can’t complain about the thoughts themselves. He was looking towards the future. I just wish that everyone who says that they listen to him actually WOULD listen to him. Unfortunately, they just don’t. And it has cost our country, and our world, dearly.
So, I know that Christmas is over, but that doesn’t mean that the thought has to be. All we need to do is keep looking forward. Think of the children whenever we do something. Think of how they will live with the consequences of our actions. And remember that everything we do, good or bad, is a gift for them to open later. It’s up to us to make sure that it’s not rotten to the core by the time they get it.
