"So this is Christmas - and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just begun."
So go the first lines of my favorite Christmas song. John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono wrote "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" in 1972 when the world looked dismal. The war in Vietnam saw no end in sight, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union continued, and Europe remained divided between East and West. We here in the United States for ages have been fortunate to be protected from war, from famine, from disease, from darkness. John Lennon wrote this song to remind us that all the world is not so safe and so sweet.
As we settle into the holiday spirit, gather round our Christmas trees with our loved ones, and share the joy of this beautiful season, it's easy for us to become engrossed in how good we have it. The Christmas season has always been special and dear for us Americans, even non-Christians. As our culture has built it, it has become a universal time of "peace and good will towards men." I think that's such a beautiful thing, and though I'm not the most religious guy in the world, I love Christmas and what it means to so many people. But a big part of this time of year for me - every single year - is reminding myself of how blessed we are.
This year has not been an easy one. Millions around the world have carried the weight of hard times in 2016.
The on-going civil war in Syria has ripped apart families and scattered them across the eastern hemisphere. Every day this year in that war-torn place, people were killed, homes were destroyed, and lives were forever changed. One of those lives was little Omran Daqneesh, the 5-year-old boy in the ambulance whose home in Aleppo was destroyed by an airstrike. Where Omran may be right now, I have no idea. I have no idea if he or his family may even be alive. They may now be only a part of a statistic—of the 90,000+ civilian deaths as a result of this war, or of the more than four million refugees trying to just find a safe place in this world.
This year, fear gripped the world. This year may be remembered as a dark one. I don't want to bring people down or make them feel guilty. We live the lives we are given, and we are fortunate for everything we get. I just want to briefly remind everyone at this time of joy and celebration to cherish what life has granted us. Always remember that others in this world are not so fortunate. If you're the praying sort - pray for them. But when you settle down with your families and friends this Christmas, be thankful you have these dear ones to love. Spread good will and friendship wherever you go, and let us hope for a better 2017. This coming year, "let's hope it's a good one without any fear."
