Christmas Day Thoughts

As I sit here this morning, opening gifts with family, sipping spiced wine, and answering various texts and holiday wishes from family and friends, my mind goes wild with a million thoughts surrounding Christmas. Celebrated around the world in various forms or another, I can not help but think of the true origins of Christmas, its links to ancient pagan celebrations, the death of the sun and sun god, his resurrection, and how the fears of many around the world today obscure truth in many forms for fear of retribution. I think of impoverished families going without, war torn villages around the world, workers or service men spending holidays alone for the sake of corporate gain or military might. I think, in this moment, how as we wish for peace and good will for all of mankind within the safe confines of our homes and immediate families, the world around us still remains a dark and evil place. It will be, for one day it seems, as if time will stand still . How, for one day, we will believe, hope for, or accept that all is fine and dandy in the world when the notion of such an idea is the farthest from the truth. As we celebrate the birth of a saviour who would sacrifice everything for us, what sacrifices do we make this day for those who have nothing? As we exchange gifts, as corporations monitor profits over the past few weeks, or spoiled children and even adults pout over a gift they never received, I wonder what it would be like to reverse the idea of Christmas as we see it here in the western world? Or the world over for that matter. What if, simply for once, we could put our selfish desires aside and do something wonderful for a total stranger? Sure there are groups and organizations who make every possible effort to see that many families and children have a blessed holiday season, when they would otherwise do with out. As Governments, corporations, and wealthy elites seem to do everything in their power to prevent the smallest act of kindness from influencing a movement away from mass consumerism, why not make the holidays about others? What if for once, we all considered the less fortunate instead of ourselves? Good Samaritans are arrested for feeding the homeless, the homeless are driven from shelters and denied services that would enable a better way of life, families have benefits cut in the face of government cutbacks, school programs for underprivileged children abolished, fund raisers forbidden. The list of “bah humbugs” could go on forever. Yet, what if we simply accepted an idea that we as a people will change everything next year? Drastically. If, instead of allowing corporate media outlets (such as the web and television) to drive sales for items the general populace really doesn't need themselves, why don't we simply provide for others what they genuinely need? Like food, clothing, medicine, or perhaps even school courses,a job, or a book for a perfect stranger? Or better yet a bus pass? A library card? A bicycle? Things to enable and empower people when it seems the elite powers in the world would rob the less fortunate of every last bit of human dignity. Many will sit back and see the futility in such acts of kindness, believing the world is on a dead end course to Armageddon. Many believe they can do a small amount of good before they are delivered from this world by some divine second coming or alien invasion, leaving the rest to account for their lowly sins. Yet, we must live in the now, this moment, and realize we as a race hold the keys to “the second coming”. WE must become the dawning New Age through our actions and awaken the consciousness of love and acceptance that many Christ’s so passionately portrayed. We must forget our own wants and needs to consider the many, not just the few. So these were my thoughts this morning. Perhaps a new idea and extension of my rapidly expanding world? A new idea for a non-profit organization? A new idea for a massive movement? Perhaps. Lets simply take the time in the next eleven months to watch those in the world around us, and consider things that we may contribute to enable others, empower them, and change lives instead of contributing to our own material desires. Christmas doesn't have to only come once a year; it really should happen everyday. In our hearts, our thoughts, and actions. It is only by consciously awakening to the reality that WE can make drastic change in the world over night, that we can undo the evil that many men and organizations seek to dispense upon humankind. Acts of love, selflessness, and kindness can and will become the magick that saves us from certain destruction. We ARE God, we can change the world, we can heal the world, and we can rapture this world to a new plane of loving existence. Brightest Blessings to everyone this holiday season. Let us consider making it a bright day everyday hencforth, and especially for those who truly could benefit from our actions. "For what soever you shall sow, that also shall you reap."