Three red letter days are special to all of us and totally arbitrary. There is no reason why they could not be celebrated on a different date, but here we are.
The first was Thanksgiving, a time for looking back and realizing how blessed we are. If you are an American you know the best that the physical world has to offer. If you are an American you know the most liberty and opportunity that history has to offer. If you add to that a belief that Jesus died for you and you have it all.
Then comes Christmas, a time for looking up and into the face of eternity, at least for Christians. Even non-Christians celebrate the season with its atmosphere of hope and joy.
Now we contemplate the future and speculate. What will the new year bring? There is no way of knowing. Much is out of our hands. We can look at the big world and feel totally helpless. Will the traitors and coup leaders pay for their crimes? Will the economy stay strong? Will it all come apart and descend into civil war and insurrection?
It is much more important to look at what we can do something about. We think of this as an election year but we need to understand that every year is an election year in a free society. We will be voting on school boards and county offices. We will be electing mayors and sheriffs. Our votes and influence can make a difference in those areas. Do you live in an HOA? Do you do your best to ignore it? Why not get elected to it and make a difference in your neighborhood.
We can do something about our families and our personal lives. More time in the right places and a careful use of the word “no” could make a big difference. Maybe your kids don’t need to be on the soccer team but instead need to work in the yard with dad. Maybe instead of ballet they could get involved with some of the shut-ins in your church.
In spite of all the problems we see, we live in the best time of history. We have dental anesthesia. We have hot and cold running water. We can travel across the country without every local power broker stopping us and saying, “Papers please.” We have choices in the type of bread we buy and only stand in line when we check out. We can worship without the government telling our children they can’t go to college.
So today have a happy new year and tomorrow start on a blessed year long.
homo unius libri
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