‘Twas a week before Christmas and all through the abode, not a sound was to be heard except for one mode. The TV kept blaring all through the place, about coronavirus, elections, and issues about race.
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s 2020 you know, the perils are plentiful, and the progress is slow. The light ahead we can see, if we strain, only to hope it’s not an oncoming train. To vaccinate or not is now the debate, while other discussions seem to end with more hate. So, I have found, as I enter this season of joy, it’s beneficial, the off button to employ.
Very seldom do I write an article that relates to a holiday. In part because I forget about the holiday until it has already passed and I am left thinking, “I could have written an article about something related to the holiday. Ready subject material at the waiting, and I failed to use it.”
Very seldom do I write an article that relates to a holiday. In part because I forget about the holiday until it has already passed and I am left thinking, “I could have written an article about something related to the holiday. Ready subject material at the waiting, and I failed to use it.”
A few weeks back I managed to work in some comments regarding Veteran’s Day, wedged in between Halloween and Thanksgiving, with more significance than Halloween and less recognition that it deserves.
This year I am actively thinking about the holidays before they become a part of history. I am actually thinking about a lot of things this year because the temporal value of many of the things that we place stock in has been exposed.
In March 2020, the thought may have been, “This is tough, but we will get through this.” As weeks began to pile, week upon week, the thought may have moved to, “This is desperate, will it ever end?” Numbers began to trend in the right direction and the end was once more in sight. Then the temperatures began to fall, unfortunately, the numbers began to rise, and a new surge would follow.
In March 2020, the thought may have been, “This is tough, but we will get through this.” As weeks began to pile, week upon week, the thought may have moved to, “This is desperate, will it ever end?” Numbers began to trend in the right direction and the end was once more in sight. Then the temperatures began to fall, unfortunately, the numbers began to rise, and a new surge would follow.
The struggle is real, and as the 2020 fatigue sat in, a light appears on the horizon. No matter the individual decision on whether or not to take the vaccine, that decision has an equivalent value to the personal decision to accept the hope that lies within the real Reason for the Season. Christmas celebrates the hope for humankind and the birth of the one who resolves the conflict in the covenant between mankind and God. Not everyone who is presented that information, makes a positive decision, and accepts that gift.
That is just the way it is. All of the current chatter regarding coronavirus, the election, or issues about race, are based upon decisions.
That is just the way it is. All of the current chatter regarding coronavirus, the election, or issues about race, are based upon decisions.
Decisions on whether an issue is correct or in error, left or right, up or down, equitable or inequitable, are made daily. All of these decisions drive the conversations or the lack of conversations which seem to move toward more absurd actions. Those actions seem to be the focus as presented by the news.
So, on a week before Christmas, let’s slow down and look forward to the hope at the end of 2020 and if need be, employ the off button.
So, on a week before Christmas, let’s slow down and look forward to the hope at the end of 2020 and if need be, employ the off button.
(Paul Richardson's column, The Horse I Rode In On, is published weekly in the Neosho Daily News, Seneca News-Dispatch, Aurora Advertiser and on the Turner Report.)
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