Do you hear what I hear?
I turn on the radio and I hear jingles singing ‘ ‘tis the season to go shopping ’. I hear the voice of commerce threatening to drown the joyful strains of a carol chorus that spreads the message of love and hope. These things make me want to turn a deaf ear to the world during the Christmas season.
But if I did I would not hear the hope that lies inbetween these commercial messages of false love.
I would not hear the pleas from groups that are trying to organise gift donations to children who are orphaned or hospitalised. If I turned a deaf ear then I would have missed the callout for singers to join in a carol service at an elders home so that the residents can have carols at their doorstep. I would have missed the sound of Christmas that lives on in the individuals and groups who are determined to bring the original message of love and hope back to the forefront.
Do you see what I see?
The images of families cuddled around presents and a huge festive dinner makes me shake in fury: the advertisers appear to feel no guilt at thrusting these images at a country whose population has always known the pain of separation, the heartache of irreparable loss and the ever-present threat of hunger. But then I see the banners of events celebrating Christmas where the organisers use the profits for charitable endeavours like buying new equipment for the Cancer Hospital, or to fund housing projects to rehabilitate people. More than that, I see the joy that these projects bring to the people who organise them: the hope that drives their efforts and the happiness that radiates through them when they receive news of someone wanting to sponsor their heartfelt efforts.
I want you to feel what I feel.
As I hear of the new projects starting in the spirit of Christmas to help the needy and I see the ideas of good-willed people taking shape in campaigns and fundraisers for charities, as I experience the indestructible determination of a few remarkable individuals who want to bring back the real message of Christmas – I can finally feel the real Christmas spirit radiating brightly despite the glare of commercial neon lights.
The aim of these individuals is to revive a feeling of hope in those who have long since abandoned it but their real achievement is combating the cynicism in the modern world by showing everyone that we can make a difference in another person’s life if only we try.
This spirit is indomitable and moreover, it is contagious. Let yourself be swept away in the massive efforts by charitable groups to spread the message of love and hope this Christmas.This column was written by a STITCH volunteer learn more at www.stitchmovement.com. |
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