It’s that time of year again folks…
So. It
’s nearly christmas for those of you in countries that “celebrate” it. For most people it’s a time of goodwill, friends, loads of presents, way too much food and plenty of alcohol, usually resulting in the usual family arguments around the dinner table.
For others it means nothing. You may belong to a different religion that celebrates at a different time of year, or you may call yourself an atheist. But what does christmas really mean? Does it have any true meaning or is it just yet another man-made event which has the intended or unintended effect of dividing everyone through their conditioned belief systems?
Whatever the case it seems that christmas now is about spending and indulging as much as possible – especially in the rich western countries that so many of us inhabit. Now I am not here to criticise what you do during this “festive season” but instead to help shed a little light on the effects of this one day.
I could go on at length about the food waste, the felling of trees, the massive increase in electricity needed due to the number of lights that go up, the plastic packaging used to contain the presents, the mass slaughter of millions of birds and animals, the debt created by spending too much, the workers paid pennies to create your presents in far away countries, and the connection we are making between love and receiving consumer goods for our children…. But I won’t! After all, it is your choice, and as long as you are aware of the consequences of your actions then it’s fine with me. The problem is, we aren’t aware or at least we just say, “it’s for the children…” or “I know we spend and waste so much but what can you do, it’s christmas and it comes but once a year…”
The one good thing about christmas (they say) is that people are nice to each other! Well, that can only be a good thing, no? But it seems to me a shame that we can’t take that feeling of goodwill, peace and love and carry it through our lives.
All I ask is that each person spends a little time on that day to reflect on what each of us has created in the 364 days leading up to christmas day, and ask of ourselves “what have I created in the world? Have I created fear, jealousy, hatred, anger, violence or greed, and if so how can I become more aware of myself in order to transcend these things?”
Whether you are a christian, a muslim, an atheist, a warmonger, a politician, a criminal, or any other label you apply to yourself, these are questions we can all ask of ourselves….
Of course you don’t have to agree with me! It’s just my view that’s all. Enjoy the 25th December, and make sure to get in early for the post christmas sales on the 26th!
So does christmas have any true meaning? You tell me…
Alan