The remarkable impact of Christmas

Paul W. Barada

Have you ever stopped to think about what a monumental holiday Christmas really is? Not just here, but all around most of the world billions of people will be observing Christmas this week. It is one of the few truly world-wide events in Christianity. In the rush of the season, it’s easy to get caught up in our own observance of the holiday without realizing that literally billions of people are celebrating Christmas in hundreds of different ways – but the point is, we’re all celebrating an event that took place over 2,000 years ago!

That fact alone makes it a remarkable occasion and clearly demonstrates the positive impact one life can have on the history of the world. The birth of Jesus Christ was obviously more than the mere arrival of one more person, in the everyday sense, on this planet. It was an event of such huge significant spiritual, moral, and religious impact that 2,000 years after the fact, most us know the story of not just the birth of Christ, but the profound impact the known events of his life have had on the history of the world.

Only a very small handful of others have managed to endure the passage of time with such a huge and on-going impact on the lives of so many. The prophet Mohammad is one and The Buddha is another of this very exclusive world-altering group of people.

Regardless of what anyone believes, or doesn’t believe, there’s no denying that the world was changed by what they had to say, by what they had to teach, and by the way they lived their lives. Think about the fact that a fair portion of all the people in the world will be observing Christmas in just three more days.

And yet, Christmas has a very personal side to it as well. Christmas means a little something different to each one of us. I can remember when I was a child how exciting it was to look through the toy catalogues; to drive though downtown Rushville with the strings of colored lights that were hung across downtown Main Street; to go to Indianapolis to look at the beautifully decorated and animated displays inside the windows at L.S Ayres on the southwest corner of Meridian and Washington streets; and the excitement of writing a letter to Santa listing the things I hoped he would deliver on Christmas Eve. It doesn’t seem that long ago at all, and when I see the excitement and wonder in the eyes of our grandchildren, my own memories of childhood Christmases come flooding back. I hope those memories never fade.

Christmas morning was the best time of all. Waking up when it was still dark outside, leaping from bed to go downstairs to see what Santa had left, the anticipation of opening each present. All those cherished memories from childhood are vivid still in my recollection of those special days from childhood.

Later, when we had children of our own, I remember the late nights of Christmas Eve toy assembly. The fun, but frustrating care with which I made sure that Tab A lined up properly with Slot B, mastering the use of the Allen wrench that came with the toy being put together – knowing it was the only tool that would make assembly possible and that if I lost it, I was doomed! Or, worse yet, realizing that after the toy was finally assembled, I had inadvertently skipped a step and that steps D through K all had to be undone so the extra piece, marked, C, could be properly installed. And it was always the part required by step C without which the toy would not work or would completely fall apart.

Now I see the same things unfolding as the next generation of children anticipates the arrival of Christmas morning. My sons are the ones staying up to assemble toys. But it’s surprising how many toys Connie has purchased for the grandchildren that still require assembly by me! The pressure to accomplish the task isn’t as great for a grandparent, but it still requires a careful reading of the assembly instructions to make sure that Tab A goes into Slot B! At least I’ve acquired a rather wide selection of different size Allen wrenches, in case I lose the one that came in the package which so understates the meaning of, “Some assembly required.” As I recall, “Some assembly required,” means that there are at least 250 separate pieces that have to be put together if the toy is to live up to expectations.

The spiritual side of Christmas, at least for me, gives pause to think about the meaning of this most memorable holiday on the Christian calendar. One word that often comes to mind when all the packages are wrapped and the lights are low is “hope.” Hope for peace. Hope for the world and hope for mankind. The other word that accompanies it is “gratitude.” Gratitude for all the blessings we’ve all been given. Gratitude for the family that surrounds us on Christmas Day, and gratitude for the freedom we enjoy as citizens of this great country. In a phrase, it all boils down to hope for the future and gratitude for the blessings of the past and present.

One would hope that every person takes time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas and how it manifests itself in the lives of the billions of people who celebrate this wondrous holiday.

My wish for all is a very Merry Christmas with those you love around you.

That’s —30— for this week.



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