Christmas Is

I have often recently mentioned that I am far less optimistic about the future of humanity, let alone America, than when I began posting in 2010. I have also speculated on how much of that increase in loss of hope is related to the mere fact that I have entered the last 20% of my life span, in other words, the fear of death and the confrontation with mortality. 

As I continue my process of editing the past posts which were created with a font that I now find far too small (again, a sign of getting older), I encountered this poem from January 2017, a poem I sent along with our yearly Christmas cards to family and friends and which I then posted for my "readers".

It clearly reflects a hopefulness, in addition to an acknowledgement of the blessings in my life at the time. And, to put a time stamp on it, was written as the first Trump Administration began.

Not to put too fine a point on why I might be less hopeful, nine years later, I feel we have gone backwards when thinking about the hopes I detailed in the poem. That our evolution towards a "spiritual enlightenment" has taken a back seat, way back in the communal bus we all share, to selfishness as depicted in America First, and to an embrace in cruelty as is playing out in the mass deportation policies that are wreaking havoc on American communities and American families. 

And, to be blunt, how such thinking is not considered "woke". 

Worse, that we now seem aligned with the other bullies of the world, in an almost choreographed plan which will create two or three areas of the world controlled by those with the biggest armies and most powerful weapons, a scenario which men like Stephen Miller not only seek, but believe is justified from past violent regimes which controlled large swaths of land in centuries past. 

Or as he says, "the real world is controlled by strength, by force, and by power."

Anyway, here is the poem I sent for Christmas, 2017, which, I believe actually reflects what most people wish for but are afraid, too selfish, or just unable to connect the path to such a time with the actual actions by those in power who prevent that future from developing, and our communal responsibility for electing such people in the first place. 

 

Christmas Is

It is not the presents we get

although it is nice to feel the love

that inspires our family.

It is not the gifts we give

although the delighted faces of

our loved ones warms the heart.

It is not even the time we spend

with our family and friends in

celebration of the holiday season.

Christmas is more than the wonderful

memories we accumulate over the years

in ornaments, pictures, and holiday meals.

Christmas is hope.

 

Hope that the New Year will bring happiness

and good health to our friends and families.

Hope that our country will focus on our similarities

and finding common ground, rather than elevating

our differences and points of debate.

Hope that humanity, all races, creeds, and nationalities

will continue to evolve towards a spiritual enlightenment

which results in tolerance, acceptance, and Love.