Well, it's finally here... Christmas is tomorrow. It's interesting how the season slowly builds up for weeks and then sadly abruptly ends. I love the season... always have... but it's turning more and more into a deja vu experience each year. Like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day! Fortunately there is a way to keep Christmas all year long. That is to follow the "giving" way of the Savior of the world... the One born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem... the One whose birth we celebrate every December 25th.
In an interesting article by Nicholas D. Kristof, a self-professed liberal, it appears that the most giving political idealists are conservatives (see "Bleeding Heart Tightwads," NY Times). Ole Nick was very surprised and disappointed to find that those who share his political idealism lag far behind in charitable giving. Well, I know I'm just a basicguy, but I don't share Nick's surprise.
Liberals that I know tend to be more secular and less religious. God is less important than the "village" and church is less important than the state. In this environment, you pay your taxes to the government and they then take care of the people in the village, both here and abroad. It's pretty convenient... you never have to actually confront people in need or see them or talk to them... the government just takes care of it.
On the other hand, conservatives tend to be active Christians (think Religious Right) and as such feel the need to learn of, and live like, the icon of Christianity... Jesus Christ. The scriptures record that Jesus "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38) and most often this good was of a very personal sort... one on one... person to person.
Each of us can "keep" this Christmas... make it last a little longer and keep it from abruptly ending... by following the "giving" way of the Christ. Spend some quiet time in the scriptures and learn how to be a more personal giver. It helps while reading to ask the question posed by Saul, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (NKJV Acts 9:6.) I've found that keeping Christmas in this way, tends to make me a cheerful giver instead of a "bleeding heart tightwad." This year of all years, when so many are in trouble and hurting, let's make it so.
Merry Christmas!
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