Christmas Presence

In about four weeks time it will start, in the midst of the busy Christmas rush, pressured and tired as they are, millions of people will start being nice to each other.

There will be gifts and cards and food and wine, people will wear reindeer antlers, or Santa hats and will be nice to to each other until the Christmas hangover wears off and it will be some hastily made New Year's resolutions followed by 11 months of the same old same old until it all starts again in 2013... and I ask why can we not sustain the Peace on Earth and Good Will to others for a longer time frame.like all year round?

It is almost that at a certain time of year whether people are religious or not, they make an effort to be nice to each other. However there is a down side. I read recently that many people go into depression at Christmas because they are alone and have no one to be with.

The first Christmas was a celebration of the presence of God's Son in the world. Subsequent Christmases seem to be the celebration of the memory of that event even by some of those who are non religious although to be fair many would transfer their allegiance as it were to having having fun during the Silly Season rather than seeking to celebrate the presence of God's Son in human history.

I think we should do both, celebrate and have but remember the presence of God in our lives; after all he has not gone away.

... and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:20