12/26/2023
As the hours of Christmas Day have slipped away, I stop to look back over the time leading up to this Midnight. I'm grateful for family, friends, acquaintances, cards, gifts and all the kindnesses shown during this "Wonderful" time of the year as it is for many. Several had deaths in families, losses of different kinds, fears and uncertainties, while others had new members added to families, new jobs and opportunity handed to them, improved quality of life and other things to make them smile while watching the lighting of the Christmas lights and tree Downtown and afterwards.
My prayers tonight are for the eyes that didn't see Christmas (The Missing Children and Adults, the Homeless that didn't get counted on the official survey, the poverty-devoured families on the back streets the Mayor doesn't want you to know exist that can't afford scissors to cut out the Christmas tree from a paper they pull out of a "Wealthy" Person's trash, the soldier trapped in a foreign country hoping to see just one more sunrise amidst the gunfire, the families in war torn countries that didn't want to fight their neighbors.) I pray for the ears that didn't hear the Christmas carols because of breaking glass as Mom and Dad were fighting again, because they were being abused again, because life is so hard they only want a Silent Night, because no one came or invited them to come share in the Carols. I pray for the hands that never held a gift wrapped in paper or bows, or of a meal shared, or of holding a newborn or the hand of a loved one dear. I pray for the lips that should have been kissed, or should have been able to say "I love you too", that wanted that phone call that never came. I pray for the feet that didn't walk to open or enter a "holiday" door, or stroll a decorated street, or maybe dance a jig to Burl Ives singing 'Holly Jolly Christmas '.
I pray that each of us reading this will look closer at this great community in which we live and pay closer attention to what's not so great. Boxes in alleys are not good places for Christmas trees, thrown ornaments aren't how we decorate, turning away from the back streets, open car hoods, hungry kids on Park benches aren't who we are either, are we? Prayers to all and to all a blessed night.
-Bruce
