A Gift to The World 2

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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, but more importantly peace and goodwill. As residents are caught in the frenzy of planning holiday festivities, and doing eleventh hour shopping while lamenting the commercialization of a religious celebration, it might be worth considering the inspiration of it all. Most of what people buy is for others, and the desire to put forth that storybook Christmas is based on something more pure, something greater than the gifts and the holiday meals.

Jesus of Nazareth, born into a Jewish family living under an oppressive regime, grew to spread a simple message around the world without the aid of television, radio, Internet, or printing press. Jesus did not blog or email, he did not spam people with his message, nor broadcast infomercials, and he did not send out mass mailings. He spoke to people about being a part of something bigger then themselves, bigger than their religion, bigger than their political party, bigger than their country.

While Muslims consider him a prophet, Buddhists embrace his message as kin to their own beliefs, and Christians consider him to be God incarnate. Those cultures that do not hold the Christian belief understand that this man enriched and gifted the inner existence of generations over millennium’s. For Christians the day is meant to be a celebration of the baby Jesus’ birth, but it has undoubtedly become a gift to the world by making this particular time of the year a season of giving, charity, and communal celebration for people of all persuasions.

People embrace the secular aspects of Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and a host of industrious elves, but that should not preclude a more spiritual appreciation of the season’s sentiment. It is a sentiment born of a man who walked this earth near 2000 thousand years ago who told us, “You are the light of the world.” Something scientists only recently proved, but sages have always known, that as human beings we give off light, we shine.

Enjoy the music video below which has nothing to do with the season, and everything to do with the spirit. It’s from the documentary Peace through Music, and offers a variety of artists performing the same song all around the world. And below that, Reporter Ryan Robinson offers greetings and poetry.

Ryan Robinson

Merry Christmas from Ryan Robinson

Before I begin, I would like to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate to you this time of year. In case you are wondering, I don’t like to say “Happy Holidays”, so I did my best to name some major holidays this time of year…

Anyway, when I was in 1st grade, that’s right folks FIRST GRADE, my teacher made a book for us called “The Poetry Place”. Almost once or twice a week, we would read poems on pieces of colored paper she would give us out loud. Then, we would give them back to her. (In case you are wondering, I had Mrs. Bird at Heights) Well, at the end of the year, she took all of the poems and put them in a big book. I am going to share some of these poems with you that would fit this time of year.

Mittens
Thumb’s in the right place
Fingers all together
This is the song we sing
In Mitten Weather

Doesn’t matter whether
They’re made of wool or leather,
Thumb’s in the right place
Fingers all together.
-Anonymous

The Candle
See the Candle shine so bright.
Burning brightly day and night.
As the lamp did long ago.
Bringing the message with its glow
-Anonymous

December Celebrations
Every year at just this time,
In cold and dark December,
Families around the world
All gather to remember,
With presents and with parties,
With feasting and with fun,
Customs and traditions
For people old and young.
So every year, around the world
In all lands and nations,
People of all ages love
December Celebrations!
-Helen H. Moore

Let’s Light the Menorah
Let’s light the menorah
For the festival of lights
One candle every evening
For eight great joyous nights.
Latkes, games, and sharing,
Happiness and cheer.
Let’s light the menorah
For Hanukkah is here!
-Anonymous

The Impatient Snowman
I made a chubby snowman
And had a lot of fun.
I thought he looked so happy
When I left him in the sun.
I told I was going
But coming back to play,
I guess he got impatient,
Because…he went away!
-Anonymous

Ice
When it is the wintertime
I slide up the street.
And I make the ice laugh
With my little feet.
Crickle, crackle, crickle…
Creet, Creet, Creet.
When some rain falls on the town
And it’s cold, it turns to sleet.
-Anonymous

Snowball
I made myself a snowball
As perfect as can be.
I though I’d keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for it’s head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first- it wet the bed.
-Anonymous

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