Odd season, or maybe it's because it's more than one season. If we look at it as a "commercial event," we see the stores and the decorations designed to get us to spend money on others. We buy for many reasons, and I certainly don't "judge" the reasons. Some of us like to "exchange" gifts, sort of a mandatory giving in the office, or among our various clubs and organizations. Others give from guilt. "They gave me something so I have to give something too, or they won't give me anything next year," or whatever. Some of us give from love of the people we give to, or out of a genuine caring for them. Some give with no desire for anything in return, sometimes without letting the recipient know who gave the gift.

Receiving is also a great part of the holidays. Most of us seem to have forgotten the child like greed and delight of presents on Christmas morning. Many of us seem to have lost the ability to simply say, "thanks." It's as though receiving puts us in a "debt" to the giver--which really shouldn't be, but commercialism does encourage these feelings to one degree or another.

Another view of Christmas, is as a spiritual event, a holy day. The word "holy" implies something set aside for a special purpose such as a candle for worship. When we say "holy name," we simply mean that name has been put aside for the special and sacred purpose of spiritual worship. The same is true of a "holy day."

This tradition of "sacredness" or to set apart, comes to us from our brothers and sisters in Judaism. At this time of year there comes the festival of Hanukkah--"The Feast of Dedication." This honors a time when the struggle for freedom and the right to worship God rested in the hands of a few brave souls called the Maccabees. They fought for the right of their people, and on December 14th, 164 BC rededicated and purified their Holy Temple, for eight days they celebrated the renewal of the land of Judah, and the freedom of its people.

The third view, related but not the same, is the religious view. This can also take on some "nasty" obligations. "It's Christmas, I gotta go to church or I'll go to hell," attitude. Or, "Well its okay, I mean the family likes it." Churches fill the coffers to run for most of the year, from the Christmas and Easter donations--in many cases those special offerings go to support charity works.

Spirit-filled people are not confined to the pews of churches or synangogues, though many may be found there. Spirit filled, we worship our Higher Power, or our God, or our God by whatever name or in what way we may understand God. In this sense, Christmas can make a place in the hearts of many, whether Christian, Jewish, or notor not. The concept is that the Creator of the Universe is so caring that he decided to come among we humans and share our life, from birth as a child, to death as an adult. So, the initial concept is that God presents the presence of divinity in the world by becoming one of us. Hold it! The Infinite Being becomes human, and loves us? Sure. We humans study the universe down to the photons that compose all energy and matter, we can examine the microscopic, even the atomic and interact with the entire universe in many ways that we are only beginning to understand.

Never the less, the real basic element becomes the giving of something to others, usually to those we care for. The greatest gift we give to each other, is the gift of self--the gift of caring, and the gift of love. Through this year, many of us have come to know each other better and to share our lives, our victories, and our sorrows with one another. As the person who has the privilege of managing this place, with an excellent crew, I have watched and rejoiced as you, our family, have made this place so full of love and sharing that it is worth every effort we have put into it. You have given, in the truest sense of the word, of yourselves by being here, by helping one another, and helping us, as well.

There are those who have chosen to go other places, or have left for other reasons, we will miss them. There have been many, many new comers this year, and to all of you--welcome, we hope that you too will come to be a part of our family. The best gift that we can give all of you is our pledge to continuously try to do our best to serve your needs, to be here when you need a question answered or a hug or a joke. When you need a smile, come here and we'll give you one, if you need to cry, come on in, they'll be someone to listen and try to understand. We will continue to try to provide the newest files, virus free, possible--to fight theft with all our power, and continue to be your staff.