christmas dilemma
It is overly dramatic to call it a second
Crusade, but devoutly religious people are killing each other in the name of
their god be it a system of philosophical beliefs, economic system, black gold,
tribal history, or shade of skin color.
“Can
anyone
tell
me
what
Christmas
is
really
all
about?”
These
words
of
frustration
made
famous
by
Charlie
Brown
have
woke
me
up
for
several
days
now.
These
words,
the
piano
music
from
the
cartoon,
and
a
montage
of
faces
who
are
important
to
me.
The
rational
part
of
the
brain
knows
how
to
explain
it.
This
is
partly
grief.
This
year
three
persons
whom
were
important
to
me
died.
Two
former
professors
and
an
uncle.
The
thought
of
these
people
has
bubbled
up
faces
that
had
melted
from
memory
though
not
forgotten,
but
not
thought
about
either.
Maybe
that
is
what
cues
the
emotion
that
I
can’t
make
go
away.
I
have
accepted
that
these
persons
now
live
in
my
memory
and
through
the
laughter
and
tears
of
family
and
friends,
but
that
is
head
stuff
that
the
heart
of
late
seems
to
ignore.
This
is
partly
cynical
anger.
All
around
us
the
world
is
coming
apart
at
the
seams
and
all
we
can
do
is
shop
and
be
entertained.
It
is
how
we
cope
in
the
Western
post-modern
world.
I
don’t
believe
in
guilt,
but
I
have
wondered
if
this
is
a
type
of
survivors
guilt.
People
die
every
moment
around
the
world
in
cruel
ways,
for
unjust
reasons,
and
of
late
because
how
they
worship
God.
It
is
overly
dramatic
to
call
it
a
second
Crusade,
but
devoutly
religious
people
are
killing
each
other
in
the
name
of
their
god
be
it
a
system
of
philosophical
beliefs,
economic
system,
black
gold,
tribal
history,
or
shade
of
skin
color.
I
am
but
one
voice
in
a
sea
of
shouting.
What
can
one
voice
do
in
our
world
anymore?
Am
I,
are
we,
any
less
responsible
for
tolerating
the
Crusade
because
fuel,
food,
clothing,
and
entertainment
are
cheaper?
What
am
I,
are
we,
prepared
to
do
about
it?
Nothing.
Nothing
that
can
make
a
difference
in
the
systems
anymore.
I
grew
up
learning
that
one
person
can
make
a
difference
and
that
my
sphere
of
influence
would
increase
through
the
individuals
that
I
came
into
contact
with
every
day.
And
though
there
is
some
truth
in
this
it
strikes
me
as
a
way
I,
we,
let
ourselves
off
the
hook
for
not
making or
supporting
systemic
change
that
benefits
all
of
humanity.
This
is
partly
authentic
responsibility.
I
was
ordained
into
representative
ministry.
My
presence
represents
all
of
Christianity’s
past,
present,
and
future
story.
The
good
and
the
bad.
Many
brands
of
Christian
witness
treat
Jesus
as
the
next,
best
pharmaceutical
fix
with
the
occasional
side
effects:
love
God
and
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself.
He
has
been
engineered
of
late
to
tolerate
the
Crusade
rather
than
speak
and
act
out
against
it.
It
is
not
in
the
company’s
economic
interest
to
do
so.
Is
the
sentimentality
of
the
season
honoring
his
birth?
It
is
partly
disconnection.
For
all
the
connection
technology
we
are
a
disconnected
bunch.
Maybe
that
is
why
people
come
back
to
Church
or
Synagogue
or
whatever
their
winter
celebration
so
they
can
feel,
experience
connection.
And
for
we
who
claim
Christian
faith
what
are
we
asking
people
to
do
with
that
experience?
Change
their
sphere
of
influence?
Change
the
world?
Wallow
around
in
a
sea
of
toys . .
toys . .
toys?
My
father-in-law,
one
of
the
faces,
just
wanted
everyone
at
home
and
to
get
along.
Just
once
a
year
that
is
what
he
wanted
or
thought
Christmas
was
about.
And
mostly
during
his
life
that
is
what
he
experienced.
He
encouraged
us
to
do
more,
but
never
challenged
us
to
be
more.
Maybe
that
is
the
dilemma
that
is
waking
me
this
Christmas
season.
Overwhelmed
by
blessing,
burdened
with
responsibility,
and
frustrated
with
what
to
do.
Maybe
that
is
why
Charlie
Brown
resonates.
Filed Fri - December 22, 2006, 08:31 AM in
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