Well, everything is moving right along. Halloween and Thanksgiving have zoomed right by and now comes the rest.

The Christmas pageant on 12/22 (wow, 100 years old!), Christmas Eve services on 12/24 at 5pm and 8pm, the Solstice service on 12/20, Advent, Alliance Treasures & Bake Sale on 12/8 and 12/15, and let’s not forget Hanukkah starting on 12/25 and Kwanzaa starting on 12/26.

I like this time of year because it is so colorful with the lights and the fresh snow. Now, the problem is that we get caught up with all the stuff. We sometimes forget to remember why we are doing this. This is the time to stop and smell the pine trees, look at the lights, drink some cocoa with just a little bit of peppermint Schnapps and, while we are looking at the winter wonderland, taking time to think about people we have not been all that nice to. This season is all about being kind and caring.

Redemption—the whole point of A Christmas Carol, which I love because redemption is what I need and really, what we all need. Open our hearts and let in people who we don’t usually make room for.

Mark Twain said, “Always do some right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.” This is the season that I give money to the people on the street. I try to be nice to my family (even those I disagree with politically). I am sure that if you are standing in a line and you pay for the person behind you, both of you will have a better feeling than you can imagine.

It does not take much to change the world. You can do it one person at a time.

“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.”

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us, everyone.”

Merry Christmas!

~ Michael Two Feathers