Holidays and Giving

Its holiday time again—where did the time go? It seems like yesterday we were taking down the decorations, thinking about the year to come. I love the holiday season. I see so much kindness happen during this time of year that I wish, like many of us do, that it could last year round. And its not just Christmas, but Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa and other faiths and beliefs celebrate this time of year. I believe these holidays and celebrations show us that, at the end of the day, we have more in common with each other than we think- or maybe even want to admit. This time of year teaches us, more than any other, that we are all in this together, and our planet isn’t really so big after all.

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is attend the great arts concerts that our students and teachers present. I encourage each of you to see at least one concert this season; the list of all performances is on our website. These are truly some of the most moving and entertaining performances you will see anywhere.
We tend to think about gifts and giving this time of year; of course there are catalogs and Ebay and shopping malls, but often the gift we overlook is the gift that costs nothing at all. We like to think of this time as a magical one for children. We like to think that when the last song is played and the last bell rings, that each child goes home to a place that is full of holiday spirit, and Christmas morning is a joyous time full of laughter and toys. Unfortunately this is not true for all children- and we know that the economic situation has placed financial and emotional strains on all families. This Holiday season, regardless of your faith or beliefs, if each person was to find a less fortunate child in the neighborhood, or in the church, and make it a point to bring holiday cheer into their lives, that would truly be a gift worth giving. It doesn’t have to be a material item—it can just be your time. And it doesn’t have to be Christmas; it can be anytime of year. Let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas—hope, peace and love. Let your present this year be giving of yourself to a child that needs all three – and continue to give all year long.
Forty years ago on Christmas Eve, 1968 the astronauts of Apollo 8 became the first men to orbit the moon. I remember watching this in amazement as overnight the world shrank. What many of us came to realize as the cameras pointed back to the earth, seeing that tiny blue marble floating against a black backdrop, was that we are all part of a larger picture. Our differences, be them personal or ideological, are really insignificant, and when we come together to help the less fortunate, we truly are blessed in return.
As the astronauts finished their Christmas Eve broadcast, they sent a Christmas wish that rings true today and it is my wish for all of you: “Good Luck, Merry Christmas and God bless all of us, all of us on the good Earth”.

Happy Holidays!