Editorial

A child, not conceived of man, but of the Holy Spirit. A promise from God, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. A child who will grow up to be strong in the spirit. Glory to God in the Highest!  Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Today we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ child whose conception occurred in such an unusual way that even today many find believing a very difficult task. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, but even more, it is the season we celebrate the amazing power of the spirit. The Holy Spirit is the least discussed part of the Trinity. In this part of the world Christmas has become painfully commercialized. But cutting through the hype to the true meaning of Christmas is still managed by many.  Locally, I have seen the Spirit of Christmas in the halls of the Parkland School during Winterfest, at the local food banks and the Freezing Nights program at our local churches. It is in the collection of toys and gifts for kids whose families don’t have a dime to spare, in the hearts of a local business group who scrounged up money to buy a family a Christmas tree and in the soul of a woman with barely enough money to pay her rent that plays her horn on the street corner and gives the money for the charity of others.

If you have greeted someone with Merry Christmas this week, baked a batch of cookies from an old family recipe or met with friends to revel together, you too, may have found a slice of the Holy Spirit to share. For it is the love we share with others that brings us closer, makes our lives merrier and gives witness to the meaning of the season and the reason the Christ Child was sent to us.

I hope you find the day shining the light of love into your life. The warmth of the love we share glorifies God. May the peace, hope, joy and love of the season fulfill you more than the experience of tattered wrapping paper on the floor. Merry Christmas everyone!