If ever the world needed the true message of Christmas I would say it is now. I'm not talking about the preoccupation with materialism or the other vain and meaningless trappings we so readily identify with this season. No, I'm talking about the real thing.
The real message of Christamas is all about hope in the midst of depression. It is about light at the end of the tunnel. It is about joy in a joyless world. It is about love and peace when hate and violence appear to be winning. It is about grace in a rude world. It is about kindness to those who least deserve it. It is a message of good news to counter the daily negative headlines in our newspapers. It's about healing for a sick world.
The world gets cold comfort from the messages of a Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins or Aldous Huxley. It is apparent to me their gift to the world is more misery and despair of which we already have plenty. We are reminded almost daily of wars and rumors of wars, global warming, the current economic meltdown and a seemingly endless list of problems in this world yet I listen to the words of the the old traditional Christmas carols I learned to love as a child and I get hope.
Gerald Hall
Nanoose Bay, B.C.
