Outstretched Hands

The holiday season has arrived with joy and hopes for the new year, a time when families gather in acknowledgment of the values of hearth and home, and of America as a country of many peoples celebrating the meaning of the season in many ways.

The holiday for Christians is a time of religious worship and renewal of belief, and for some in this mosaic city it is a secular pause, a great moment in the faith of others. But for all, year’s end can be a time to reflect, to look back at 12 months spotted by achievement and loss; a time to look ahead to personal and collective prospects.

For the Christian faithful the day will begin and end with religious acts. Meaning also resides in the gathering of families, drawing together at a special time in a society that sometimes drives us apart. The Jewish, Muslim and other faiths also have observances this season, with roots in distant centuries. Some observances, like the days of Kwanzaa celebrated by many African Americans, are more recent.

The customs if not the beliefs of Christmas itself have gone global, from Santa to the pre-holiday buying frenzy. But the most cherished value of the season may be the giving of self--Skid Row volunteers and Salvation Army bell-ringers know this well. So do hotline counselors and soup kitchen ladlers and Meals on Wheels delivery angels. The holiday is a reminder of the human need to give more than the boxes under the tree.

May we all look beyond our daily tribulations and reach out to make this coming year one of beneficial change and charity.