Tidings of Comfort and Joy?

         20 babies and 6 adults were murdered this month. I just found out that today (Christmas Eve), 2 firefighters were slaughtered and 2 other firefighters are injured from what appears to be a trap to lure them in and kill them.  As if that wasn’t enough this Christmas Eve, a police officer and a bystander died from wounds suffered in a parking lot shootout in Texas. Earlier this month, there was a shooting in an Oregon mall that was packed with holiday shoppers. According to CNN, even the mall Santa had to drop down to keep from getting shot. And these are just a few of the headline stories! What about the world news? Do I even need to mention the unrest and violence going on around the globe? What about the local news stories of murders, car accidents, and kidnappings?

            What comfort and joy?

            Many a Christmas family gathering will be torn apart when the conversation turns to gun laws, foreign policy, the last election, or the fiscal cliff we will be going over. We are all worried. Taxes are rising. The economy is still crawling by. Our healthcare system is going to be completely changed, and no one knows exactly WHAT will happen.

            On a personal note, I have friends battling cancer and other illnesses. Some are unemployed and are unsure what this New Year will bring. There is suffering everywhere. Life is uncertain. People get sick. People die. Just driving to the store is a dangerous proposition.

            Where is the peace on Earth, goodwill toward men? Not here.

            I believe in the Christmas story. I respect all different beliefs, but I have chosen to believe there is a God. Underneath the tinsel and the lights there is a deeper meaning. For some, this deeper meaning is family and giving. I love that. I agree. For others, Christmas is a stupid holiday and a waste of money. It is getting easier and easier to be completely cynical. It comes down to a choice.

            Christmas means hope. Christmas means this nasty horrible planet we are living on is not the end. Even if you don’t believe it, you must admit that the idea of God coming down to this terrible place to save us is appealing. I have chosen to believe this is true. I cling to the fact that this life is not all there is. I have to.

There is still good in the world. The firefighters, the police, and the paramedics/EMT’s that put their life on the line and see unspeakable horrors give me comfort. My fellow nurses, the doctors, the nurse’s aids, and all the hospital staff dealing with very sick and dying people with compassion day in and day out give me comfort. The men and women of our military that sacrifice so much to keep evil out of our country give me comfort. My family and friends that have proven that they have my back no matter the situation give me comfort.

This year we have to look hard to find comfort and joy, but it is there! I wish that on a personal level that you can find it this Christmas.

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

‘Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”

Merry Christmas!