Do You See What I See?

There were many Christmas Days that I spent in far-away places when I was a much younger man, and I am very grateful that I have been able to enjoy home and family over the last several decades after I had settled back down in Maine.  Being able to spend this particular holiday with loved ones in a warm and familiar environment is, for me, a great part of the blessings that this time of the year can bring.

For a number of reasons, I find it difficult to comprehend the motivations behind the escalating “war against Christmas” being waged by some members of our society.  Oh yes, I recognize that the rants protesting the “crass commercialization” of this special celebration have some validity.  Particularly after being exposed to the gleeful recitation via the media of examples of behavioral obscenities highlighting the mass idiocy observed during the shopping frenzies prior to Christmas Day.

And yet …….

I have been fortunate to observe many acts of kindness and charity committed by people who have no desire (or need) for the kind of recognition so craved by politicians, celebrities, and others who see generosity of spirit and sharing as a billboard to promote their own desperately constructed public personas.  There are, for instance, families who have gone out of their way to ensure some happiness at Christmas for those less fortunate by donating gifts deducted from their own sometimes meager resources.  Or those who volunteer their time, goods and money to charities who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the truly needy.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who expressed the opinion that society has undergone a radical change, has been lured into the sinuous embrace of materialism to the point where the ties so carefully constructed through religion, public morality, school-taught ethics, and bonds cemented through a sense of community have all but vanished.

To be sure, many of the fraternal organizations that have provide charitable support and community support as part of their moral and ethical structure are currently battling shrinking membership (my Masonic Lodge and my wife’s Lions’ Club are two personal examples).  Still, both of these organizations continue with their charitable activities, understanding that membership shortages are cyclical in nature and that there is always a small core of committed members who can keep things going.

My friend and I agreed that dedication to structured beliefs has, for many, become something to be avoided because the secular society that has become so recently popular is dedicated more to the worship of self and the “freedom” to become beholden to self-gratification above all else.  Discipline, restraint and common sense are in many cases to be derided, not emulated, and such a creed severely limits the opportunity for true compassion.

There are always choices to make, I believe, and the opportunity for good – as well as evil – exists in all humans.  I will always admire someone who shows, through their actions and words, that they have a strong moral and ethical base that consistently directs their interactions with their fellow beings.  Those are the ones that I am happy and willing to associate with.

Tradition, faith and morality have traditionally built such a cadre.  And there are many of them in evidence, if one is willing to take the time to look – and evaluate – and yes, judge.

I hope that all of you who have chosen to spend a few moments with me have enjoyed a Merry Christmas with those who matter most to you.

Merry Christmas from Maine

We have a few inches of snow here in southern Maine, just enough to turn things white.  I can recall years past when Christmas snow was measured in feet, not inches, but that was some decades back.  Certainly it has not been for lack of cold weather this year – storms have passed us by to the north and south.

The next couple of days will be devoted to family activities.  We don’t get to see everyone here at home this year, since family members are scattered across several states, but still many of us will get to enjoy each others’ company for a few hours.  With a strong contingent of little ones, it will be interesting and with the presence of a large, ebullient, adolescent chocolate Lab puppy perhaps even exciting in ways not anticipated.

Still, Christmas for me is all about family and the lovely, wonderful woman who somehow managed to see something worthwhile in me long ago and helped straighten out a life aimed the wrong way.

I can lend a minimum of credence to the argument from some that the spirit of Christmas has been supplanted by an orgy of spending, “finding the right gift”, partying and one-upmanship, that commercialization has overcome what Christmas is all about.  Perhaps so, in some instances.  Still, Christmas can embody so many other good aspects of our Western society.

Charities are more active during this season and they receive a great deal of support even in these times of a diminished economy.  There does appear to be a more cheerful atmosphere in a general sense.  With a defined theme, there are many activities to enjoy featuring music and other types of performances including some spectacular Christmas trees such as the one sponsored by Freeport’s legendary outdoors outfitter, L.L. Bean.

Despite the efforts of the ACLU and other secular organizations to deemphasize the celebration of Christmas (under the guise of “equality” and “fairness”), America remains an overwhelmingly Christian nation – while at the same time providing freedom for the practice of all other religions, or lack thereof, unequaled by any other nation.  Christianity provides bedrock support for many of the positive attributes of our society, despite unrelenting attempts to denigrate it to the point where it can be replaced by the patina of Progressivism and political correctness.

For me, Christmas provides more joy than I probably deserve and reaffirms so many of the good things that help define our country and its citizens.

I hope that most of you can share in the positive things Christmas provides.

A very Merry Christmas to my readers and to the guys at American Missive, Chuck at Head Muscle, PanAm, Taxes Stupidity and Death … you have all added depth and enjoyment to the past year.  Enjoy the holidays.