Opinion : Letter to the Editor: The Reason for the Season

Dear Editor,

Thus says the LORD:
You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
and the rest of his kindred shall return
to the children of Israel.
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
and they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.

Introspection is always a valuable tool. When you quiet your mind and look within to determine just what is important in your life . . . and what is not. And I find the tenants of the Christian faith are certainly an excellent guide for helping me do this. From this reading in Micha of the Old Testament springs the root and the promise of all Christian faiths. It is the promise of a savior - an individual that is at once a leader, a path and a sacrifice. The sacrifice and gift of his life allows those that accept Him into their hearts and follow him to be assured of a life after an earthly death. It is a gift that is certainly beyond our - at least my - understanding. And it is the acceptance of that gift that is my faith. I have faith that the stories are true - from His birth in a manger, through His life and finally His death and resurrection.

So, as we all embrace the "hustle and bustle" of the Christmas Season . . . let us not forget the root of the season born in a small village in the hill country of Judah. A child born of a virgin destined to provide a path to the world that offers peace, love and joy.

Whether we accept that path, whether we embrace that life, whether we choose to follow His teaching - that is, and always has been, our free choice. I know that for me, as I decorate the tree, string the lights and hang the ornaments . . . as I assemble the Manger scene that has been part of our life together from our first Christmas as Husband and Wife 52 years ago . . . the best time spent during the Christmas season is that spent in introspection, evaluating my path over the past year. It's spent remembering my faith's humble beginning in a stable 2,000 years ago and it is confirmed this Sunday at Mass through the reading above. While lives can go helter-skelter, a strong faith is a solid foundation that grounds us and keeps us headed in the right direction.

My wish for you is to take as much time as you can this Christmas season and remember the "reason for the season" and the gift His life and teachings have been to the world. Remember the people behind the gifts you give, the joys and good times with them. Spend as much time with each as you can, focused on the person and not the gift. Honestly - the person IS the gift . . . take the time to enjoy them.

Merry Christmas, and may His blessings enrich every day of your new year.

Respectfully,

Bill Keller