Earlier last week, as I sat multitasking on my laptop while watching TV, a commercial came on for Amazon Prime. It begins with two older gentlemen, who seem to be very good friends, sitting down and catching up. One man happens to be Caucasian and the other is Arabic. The men are seen sharing a hug, laugh, and pleasant conversation. Before long, the two men get up from their table and the Arabic man heads for home. At their respective houses, the men are shown ordering Christmas presents for each other from Amazon Prime. Towards the end of the commercial, the two men open their gifts in surprise- they have ordered each other the same gift, knee pads. In the end, the Caucasian man, also a Catholic priest, gets down on his knees in prayer. The Islamic man, also an imam, bends down in prayer, as well. In a word, to me, the commercial was simply beautiful. And I quickly teared up.

In the midst of the holiday season, I am so happy to see a commercial like this grace people's televisions. With the events of 2016 having escalated the way they have, as 2017 is welcomed into the world, we are a people in need of change. Amazon Prime's commercial epitomizes the way it will be brought about. I myself am a born-again Christian. Through that, I am called to love everyone for the people they are, the choices they make, their flaws and perfections all rolled into one- just as the two religious men do in this situation. There is not one negative connotation in the entire advertisement. There is no wariness, no fear, no abuse, no anger. In this one minute and a half commercial, there is only acceptance, love, laughter, and hope. Hope.

As children, we are taught that there are two things that should never be discussed in public: politics and religion. Yet this commercial has taken both of those, and forced their acknowledgement. Around the world, we are on the cusp of something amazing, yet none of us seem to notice it. I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it again. Everything is hinged on our perception. People everywhere, especially Americans lately, have been weathered by judgement, judgement that we aren't capable of giving. It's difficult not to. But just as Amazon Prime's commercial proves that it's possible (both men are actual religious leaders), so true do we know how possible it is. In our day to day interactions, we can choose how we treat one another. We have to make the active decision. Choose the Good- and Merry Christmas!

P.S. You can watch the full commercial here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouu6LGGIWsc