Wrapping Up the Season

Another Christmas has come to an end, but hopefully the spirit that is truly intended for this season will ignite one day and saturate the world. One of my favorite seasonal songs is Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder which was also made into a television commercial, expressing the sentiment nicely:

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Meanwhile, my local community spreads goodwill by maintaining the Fantasy of Lights exhibition that began here in the 1950s by a man, Mr. Burns, who grew up as an impoverished youth and never had lights or Christmas trees. As he began his oil company and profited from it, he set up a few outdoor displays in his yard and gradually increased those year by year. He did this so that children would have something to see and enjoy during the season. The display is now managed by the local university and has been expanded by various companies and organizations. The homes in this neighborhood also display exquisite lighting such as huge trees outlined in cascades of lights and lighted ornaments. It is a wonderful place for all people to go and reflect upon this time of the year regardless of whether they celebrate Christmas or not. It is the perfect spot to consider the magnitude of generosity and the goal to attain the glorious gift of world harmony.

Another song, an oldie but a goodie is the Royal Guardsman’s Snoopy’s Christmas,where yes, none other than the adorable Snoopy takes on the Red Baron in a real dogfight:

The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine 
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines 
Snoopy was certain that this was the end 
When the Baron cried out, “Merry Christmas, my friend”

Although Christmastime did not serve to end the conflict of Snoopy and the Red Baron, “they knew they would meet another day,” the bells ringing below reminded them of bringing peace to the world and good will to man.

The 70 degree weather has vanished here giving away first to blustering winds, sideways rain, then a bit of snow.  Winter arrived with an attitude.