66 Merry CHRISTmas? Grusse Gott.

In our search for personal truth and satisfaction we often have a lot of stumbling blocks along the way. Let's begin by stating that most of us know our country was founded on Christian values. Okay, I'll buy that, sort of. Our forebears looked to escape religious persecution and the oppressive rule of an out-moded form of government. To steal a bit of a quote from F.D.R.- our country has always been about bringing equality and peace to the world through our "righteous might". You have to look past the corruption that is politics and look at the ideas that our founding fathers had, but you should get my point.

As we arrive at the Christmas season, I would ask a bit of leniency from the Christians. The spirit of the season is about love and forgiveness, hope and faith, is it not? It is to celebrate the life of a man that spread the word of these qualities, no matter the suffering put on him by the society of his day. His piety and staunch faith to the message that he spread has reverberated for two millenia.

His message has given hope to many and if nothing more than that, he should be lauded as much or more than what we do.

I will never understand why "devout" believers in any religion preach tolerance and yet will decry any stance that is not their own. Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan and even the baser, non-deity religions like Druid and Native American (some,not all) have their own messages of peace and hope. The dawning of a new day, the birth of new lives, the passage of the earth through her seasons of ebb and flow and the very journey through life are all good reasons to celebrate.

As the year comes to a close, let us not focus on the awful things we hear and see from the media. Let us remember the family and friends that have loved us and those that have gone from this earth to continue their journey. We should practice what we "preach", should we not?

Scientists at the CERN facility are looking for the so-called "GOD particle" and hoping to understand the big bang by the dazzling power of the experiments their machine has wrought. I say-forget about it. Let God be God, we are not meant to understand the why's and how's of the creation brought about untold ages ago. As usual, it's all my opinion, but I think life is about the journey, not the destination. You work towards a personal goal and strive to make it happen. There is a satisfaction upon completion of attainment, and yes, often the goal is worthy and satisfying, but, hear me out: was not the path leading to the goal just as satisfying? Sometimes maybe moreso? I relish the strength I feel from working through trials and roadblocks that stand in my way. I feel a sort-of strength and power that must be but a taste of what God felt as he created what is. My journey has been the learning part, not the ends to each minor event. Your schooling taught you, not the diploma received upon graduation.

I have said it before, but I think we are supposed to learn certain things in our journeys, some do, some dont. I think we all move along and through the paths to whatever the goal may be. Some get caught up, stalled if you will and are doomed to repeat certain things until they can move on or up. Heaven is not above, there is only atmosphere and then space. Heaven is in the eyes of your loved ones, it rests in the beauty of the scenery and in the creative works of man.

So, if I see you and say "Merry Christmas", I do so because to me, the spirit of the season is about reminding each other that we are here to love and get along, learn and grow. Many do not, but that is their failing. If by saying a few words we can get through even to one person, one time, it is worth the saying. Men of faith in this "modern" world are often not about faith at all, but about the money to be made from others blind faith. I do not lump all into one, but I chose a long time ago to make my own way, find my own "truths" and try to find my own way to give hope to people. Many times I have been chastised by the ones who bang their drums the hardest. I think they cant hear their own heart anymore for the noise.

I probably sound like the dope-smoking hippies from not-so-long-ago, but I say to you: Be tolerant, be peaceful, be hopeful. There is always room for hope. We can hope there is something after this life. No one wants to think that our life is all there is. What would be the point? You just have to be able to accept other people's vision of what comes next. I may not believe there are actual "pearly gates", but that doesnt mean there arent for you. You may not think you will move to a new life in a new "dimension" or world or even back on this world, but that doesnt mean that I'm not going to. Most religions are supposed to be about tolerance, but it is rarely so. Try talking to a Christian about your views as say, an agnostic or even as a Muslim. I bet most of the time you'll get the "yes, but I'M right after all" speech or at least the snide look. Before you start bashing me, think about it. How many of you on facebook have posted the "I dare you to post this if you're not afraid to admit you_____Jesus" stuff? Are you afraid to hear another viewpoint without judging it? Again, I would have to say no. I have been on both sides of the argument. I used to attend a structured religious setting and after I made up my own mind about God, the bible and organized religion I have taken a bit of flak about it.

I will always believe that the Christmas holiday is a good, viable outlet for your own brand of spirituality. I love having family and friends come together at our home and eat a big meal and catch up on each others' lives. It is a time to forgive and forget, show each other that you still care no matter what has happened over the years and keep the turkey and smoked ham industries in business.

So as you move about the country this year to see family and friends, remember that soon, your taxes will be due, you're one day closer to eternity and there is a God somwhere that is guiding you. Whether you choose to accept him or not, whether you think he's there or not, believe me, the IRS is there and they will be waiting.....