The true spirit of Christmas

"Christmas is not a time nor a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -- President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933).
As family and friends gather today to celebrate the birth of Christ, the words spoken by the 30th president of the United States offer a contemplative pause. Although Coolidge governed in an era of relative prosperity in the United States, he recognized that the true meaning of Christmas could easily get lost in the materialism of the celebration.
Indeed, "to cherish peace and goodwill" and "to be plenteous in mercy" are ideal centerpieces for Christmas 2003. They explain why this day is so important to Christians around the world, and why it has captured the imagination of people of other faiths.
The birth of Christ is a manifestation of faith, love, redemption and, of course, hope.
And given what is going on in the world today, hope does spring eternal.
Terrorism
While there are many danger zones around the globe, and terrorism remains the great evil, there is reason to hope that peace on earth is attainable.
The capture of Saddam Hussein, a blood-thirsty dictator who used biological and chemical weapons against his own people, has given hope to the people of Iraq.
While it will take several years for Iraq to fulfill the promise of democracy, the rebuilding of the human spirit has already begun.
There also is hope for peace in the Middle East, not only because Israel and the Palestinians are keeping the lines of communications open, but because Moammar Gadhafi, the leader of Libya and a longtime sponsor of terrorism, has held out the olive branch to the west.
Gadhafi announced last week that he is willing to destroy his weapons of mass destruction in return for the lifting of economic sanctions by the United States.
President Bush has described the Libyan leader's offer as a significant step in the drive to end global terrorism.
And there is hope that spread of AIDS, the scourge of the underdeveloped world, especially Africa and the Caribbean, will finally be slowed through a campaign made possible by the billions of dollars pledged by Bush and approved by Congress.
For Christians, today's celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is the culmination of months of spiritual preparation and of performing good deeds. It is a time for joy, for sharing and for remembering those less fortunate.