When ever I hear spiritual people talking the talk about how the world is coming into a new age of enlightenment and positive energy. Over the past few years look out on the world it appeared the opposite was true. There was more war and fighting in the world than I had ever recalled. But was yesterday the turning point?
Many people viewed the former president of the US as someone who stood against peace and caused more conflict than he stopped or prevented. He was view by many as a source of evil and not good. I for one will not judge Bush as good or evil. I believe that he governed through some very difficult times and I have to believe that he did what he thought was right.
However, yesterday the US got a new leader. One who is viewed in a much better light around the world. He brings with him a promise of change; change for the better. Is this a sign that the world is trying to change. Trying to bring a more positive energy into the world and let it reign? I would like to believe is.
However, Obama will face difficult times as well. Economically the US and world are in a bad place and appear to be getting worse. People are expect that he will be able to fix everything. All the mistakes they believe have occurred in the last ten years and that he will make the US strong again.
Is this realistic. He is after all one man. He does have a lot of influence but he cannot fix everything that is wrong. We must all stand up and take responsibility for our place and move ourselves forward and not rely on others. This could be the dawn of a new age for the world, but it is not because of one man and can not be realized by one man. It will take us all.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Holiday Season
As we approach the end of a year many people will be celebrating holidays. One in particular is that of Christmas. Christmas is generally accepted to be a Christian holiday one to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is my option that this holiday has long since grown out of being a Christian holiday and has become a societal holiday, much like Halloween. This is not to say that people do not hold a religious connection to the holiday. Among Christian faiths it is still very much a faith based holiday. Many attend mass and celebrate the birth of their saviour.
One does not, however, have to look far to see that this holiday has grown well beyond being faith bases. The icon that represent this holiday, for the most part, is not the child said to born on 25th of December day, but a fat man in a red suit. Santa or Santa Clause, notice that even the religious ties to this figure have been removed, represents many things. Many of these things are good; like sharing and giving. But he also represents the commercialization of the season and bribery. Not things any faith would want to be connected to.
In our family we do celebrate Christmas. We exchange presents, but each year the best ones are the ones that produce the biggest laughs. It is a time for us to get together with family, have fun and laugh. It is a time to put focus on those that need our help and to give them a hand. This for me is the true meaning of the holidays. The things that our friend Mister Scrooge kept in his heart all year.
So this year, take a moment for the business of this time of year and think about what Christmas means to you and your family. What message you are presenting to the children in your family. Is this a time for giving or receiving or neither? Is it a time to come together with your family? Is this a time for help those less fortunate? In these things you will find the true spirit of the season. So I send you best wishes this season and hope that we can all keep good thoughts in out minds, thoughts of love not of the things we will get and give.
One does not, however, have to look far to see that this holiday has grown well beyond being faith bases. The icon that represent this holiday, for the most part, is not the child said to born on 25th of December day, but a fat man in a red suit. Santa or Santa Clause, notice that even the religious ties to this figure have been removed, represents many things. Many of these things are good; like sharing and giving. But he also represents the commercialization of the season and bribery. Not things any faith would want to be connected to.
In our family we do celebrate Christmas. We exchange presents, but each year the best ones are the ones that produce the biggest laughs. It is a time for us to get together with family, have fun and laugh. It is a time to put focus on those that need our help and to give them a hand. This for me is the true meaning of the holidays. The things that our friend Mister Scrooge kept in his heart all year.
So this year, take a moment for the business of this time of year and think about what Christmas means to you and your family. What message you are presenting to the children in your family. Is this a time for giving or receiving or neither? Is it a time to come together with your family? Is this a time for help those less fortunate? In these things you will find the true spirit of the season. So I send you best wishes this season and hope that we can all keep good thoughts in out minds, thoughts of love not of the things we will get and give.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Posting Again
It seems that every few months, some times longer, I find myself back here for a few new posts. Every time I do this I promise to start posting again. I cannot promise what will happen, but I'm going to try and put up a post once a week, this will likely not be consistent until the new year if I'm able to come through on this one.
