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Opinions
Christmas spirit is everywhere
BY BRIAN K. FINNICUM, EDITOR
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:16 AM CST
If one were to judge by the number of homes with outdoor Christmas lights this year, it would seem that there has been less Christmas spirit to go around this year.
I don’t know about you, but it has certainly seemed to me that there have been fewer displays of Christmas lights than there have been in years past.
I suppose that’s no surprise. One doesn’t have to be an investment banker, a car maker, or a big investor with Bernie Madoff to be feeling the pinch of today’s poor economy. Between the real estate slump and the huge decline in construction, there are a lot of folks right here who are hurting, and hurting badly.
When you’re worried about where the next month’s rent or house payment is going to come from, or with putting food on the table, Christmas cheer can be awfully hard to come by.
But, a few outdoor lights do not a Christmas season make. If we take a little closer look, if we go just a little below the surface, there is plenty of Christmas spirit to be found.
Starting with Light Up Blue Ridge, just after Thanksgiving, although the day was rainy, and that rain continued on into the evening, a large crowd - huge, if you consider the weather - showed up to participate in the event.
Folks there opened their pockets, donating $6,000 to benefit three local charities.
Another big crowd was on hand for the golden anniversary of the Copperhill Kiwanis Christmas Parade, which many said was one of the largest of its kind ever.
Recognizing that these tough economic times have been especially hard on some, a successful effort was mounted to reopen a shelter for the homeless here in Fannin County. Several local churches have pledged funding to help pay the rent on that facility to keep it open.
On a more personal level, some local residents banded together to provide gift bags for all the residents of the Heritage Health Care nursing home in Blue Ridge.
In yet another example, an individual who wishes to remain nameless procured 200 whole turkeys and, with the help of some volunteers, set up smokers alongside Hwy. 5 near Epworth, cooked the turkeys and gave them away to whoever stopped by.
These are only a few examples of the true spirit of Christmas that surrounds us. It doesn’t need elaborate displays of outdoor lights - the true Christmas spirit shines forth all on its own, if only we look for it.
Yes, if we look around us, we can see everywhere examples of the Christmas spirit that Ebenezer Scrooge exemplified in Charles Dickens’ holiday fable, “A Christmas Carol,” after he had been visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas yet to come. “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed that knowledge.”
And, as Dickens wrote, “May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
Although the day itself has passed, I urge you during this Christmas season to remember just what it is that we celebrate.
“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’”
God bless us, every one, and may the Good News of Christmas be yours, now and always.
Brian K. Finnicum is editor of The News Observer. He can be reached at 706-632-2019, or by e-mail at brian@thenewsobserver.com.
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