December Perspective

“As the World Turns”, a long-time daily television soap opera, rekindles my Kaleidoscope of Life blog theme. Each turn of it creates a new scene, a new composition and the desire to view more of this “magic in our hands”!
Life to us is not always beautiful! With every “turn of the road” we meet a new experience. Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly our goals and values change. Circumstances affect us either positively or negatively...portending good omens or stumbling blocks for us to appreciate and enjoy...or...somehow manage to solve. 

“Here today, gone tomorrow” is not only a cliche: a change of regulations,

a change of policy, a change of viewpoint...all affect us. We are then at a“crossroad of decision” which challenges our thinking...

do we accept? reject ? or remain unconcerned?

My thanks to Glen who forwarded this message...so astute and profound! 

He writes, “This is a worth while read and there is a part that most of us 

has heard before but this is a thought process that we shouldn't ignore; let's really wake up and honestly smell what God has given us...the Roses!!!”

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees

for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein

to present this piece which I would like to share with you.

I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does...to America.

The following was written by Ben Stein and spoken by him

on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My Confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful trees...Christmas Trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are ... Christmas Trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. 

I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. 

In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all, that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want 

a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians 

like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period! I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it 

in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe, I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we 

should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess

that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who wonder 

where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew, went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different. This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her, “How could God let something like this happen?” (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, 

but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, 

I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us

His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

In light of recent events...terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it

started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found 

a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, 

and we said...OK. 

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says,

”Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal and love your neighbour as yourself. 

And we said...OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem.  (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). 

We said an expert should know what he's talking about.

And we said...OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, 

why they don't know right from wrong and why it doesn't bother them 

to kill strangers, their classmates and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. 

I think it has a great deal to do with “WE REAP WHAT WE SOW”

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why 

the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send “jokes” through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, 

but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many 

on your address list because you're not sure what they believe or what 

they will think of you for sending it. 

Funny how we can be more worried  about what other people think of us 

than what God thinks of us. 

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it...no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don't complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards,

Honestly and Respectfully,

Ben Stein

..................................................................

Strongly I endorse Glen's concluding words ...

“Remember this week to Smile at a Stranger.

Help Someone you don't Know.

When you answer your cell, Smile Before Saying Hello...

(others can hear a smile on your face).

Love and prayers to all of you always.”

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written November 26, 2011

Comments are appreciated ... scroll down (sign in as “anonymous”)

or e-mail ... inezkate@gmail.com

Of Interest: This is one of four writings about December and Christmas

which I am posting this month for your reading enjoyment.