In Keeping With The Situation: Several Holiday Thoughts

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Yes, in keeping with the situation...

December 2007

A Happy Holidays & A Good New Year !

Ramadan - Chanukah - Christmas - Kwanzaa

"Not by strength, not by power, but by spirit..." (Prophecy of Zechariah)

Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith (Seven Days - Dr. Maulana Karenga)

Affirmation, Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, and Pilgrimage (Five Pillars of Faith)

"But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law..." (Galatians 4)

Like the mountain, be still and unmoving, waiting for the right moment... (I Ching 52)

"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, and compassion" (Tao Te Ching 67)

Ebenezer...

"You don't believe in me," observed the Ghost. "I don't," said Scrooge..."Why do you doubt your senses?" "Because," said Scrooge, "a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!

"...said Scrooge, "answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?

"Spirit!" he cried..." hear me! I am not the man I was..."I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.

"Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge, "I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer.

"Scrooge was better than his word...and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as (any) city knew...Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh...for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset...His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

"...and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge." May that be truly said of us, and all of us!

"And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

--- Regards, Walt Schmidt