The Christmas Tree

Its December 25th and your running down the stairs ready to open your presents. Which one first? The red the blue, the big the small? Should we open the stockings or go straight for the big ones? Breakfast or presents? Of course we want to open the biggest box under the Christmas tree, but have you ever wondered why in the world we have a Christmas tree? What is it supposed to represent? How come its always an evergreen? Why do we put lights on it? I sure don't remember Baby Jesus in the manger with a lit up, popcorn decorated evergreen...

Before there was even Christianity people have been erecting some kind of evergreen as a sign of hope. You never see anybody with regular tree, this is because the evergreen has been a significant representation of life in the winter. Civilizations from the Romans to the Egyptians used the evergreen as a sign and a hope for the upcoming spring. They didn't have whole trees, but they decorated their temples and homes with boughs and reefs of evergreen. This is why we use an evergreen for our christmas trees.

It is not historical fact, but it is widely believed that Martin Luther, the 16th century protestant reformer, had one night looked up into the night sky and had seen the many stars among the evergreens. He wanted his to capture the sight for his family to enjoy so he added lighted candles to a tree. Today we don't have that fire hazard thankfully, we have our electric lights.

Today a christmas without a christmas tree seems wrong. It has grown in so much popularity that every year in New York, presented by the Rockefeller Center, giant christmas trees are put up with over 25,000 lights and decorations.

A question

Its 2009 now, coming up on 2010. What a decade for science, for technology, together they have made us think about our religions and the existence of a God. Of course there is the ongoing debate of, "if God exists than why does suffering exist?" But this is not the subject. Science, has put its cards on the table, and everybody has their money on it. There has been debate about whether to have "In God we Trust" on our coins. Many pious people want that to stay, but why should it? America doesn't trust in God, I see "In God we Trust" on the quarter in my pocket, but isn't it an oxymoron? In our constitution there is a clear separation between Church and State. No trust in God there. Personally I wish we really did trust in God, but we shouldn't have it on our coins if no one believes it, please, lets not be hypocrites.

Religion is becoming a less and less part of our society, and science plays a leading role in this. Science has reasonable, very logical explanations for things that used to be explained by a God or supernatural force. Two of the biggest theories are the big bang theory, and the theory of Evolution. People have taken these as an explanation for God, so God is no longer needed. But if we can figure out how time itself began, than why can't we figure out if Pluto is a planet? Why are we wasting money finding water on the moon if we could be using it to saving our own planet? Is it possible that there is something out there, that is just one step above us, just as humanity is one step above animals, maybe God is one step above us. There are things that animals just can't comprehend, like when you try and save a cat from a tree it just tries and fights you. It doesn't understand what your intentions are or what your trying to do. Just as humans we try and find the answers to these difficult, mind boggling questions, but we still can't make logical decisions, or answer even the easy questions. I think there are somethings we as people just will never be able to understand. We are imperfect, we have faults, and they have been a hindrance ever since the beginning of time... or until we evolved from monkeys...

Meditation

We all have heard meditation, it has been penetrating our society today. One thing you may be more familiar with is yoga, which is very similar to meditation. Buddism is one of the most known religions to practice meditation, but you don't need to be buddhist to meditate.

Meditation is all about clearing your mind. While meditating, the goal is to clear your mind of all things, to think of nothing. Since you are thinking of nothing, there is nothing for you to worry about, and there aren't any stressors penetrating your mind, thus making you more able to focus and control your own thoughts. This is very beneficial to you in times of stress, such as a test, going out on a first date, or having to speak pubicly. Meditation allows you to "tame the mind" so to speak, take control of your fear and anxiety, and really take a minute to focus on the task at hand.

You may be wondering how to meditate. Its very simple, follow these few guidlines and you should be on your way.

1.)Find a quiet, neat and clean space, free from distractions

2.)It will be very tough at first to stay focused, but determination will make it worth while

3.)For your first time, do it for a very short time, 2-3 minutes is a good start. As you get more skilled start doing it for longer periods of time

4.)Take it seriousely, doing it with a freind would be a bad idea because of it can be distraction.

I hope you may try it even just once. It cant hurt!

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Ah its the holidays. The wonderful holidays, snow fights, sledding, presents, and the ever present frost of the cold. At least from where I come from it was cold. But lets avoid these trivial matters and really ponder what really goes on these next few weeks.
Its the end of another year, we all talk how fast it went by, the highs and the lows, and all those embarrassing moments throughout the year. But who do we end talking about these things with? Well, they are there when you wake up to open up presents Christmas morning, there the ones that call you and set you straight when your slipping up, there the ones that you call when you know you are slipping up and need help. These are the ones we talk to. They don't care about how you look, and they aren't angry because you didn't get the right present for them. They are content that you plumped down, in your ugly turtle neck that you wear every December, talking and enjoying your self with them.
These holiday times allow us as families to grow and become even closer as another year passes. You realize that these are the people that still call you when you move away, you see how you hate them, but you really can't live without them. The whole year you are ungrateful for them, you forget that they could be gone any day. During the holidays, we take that time to be grateful for your families just being there around you.
Please this holiday season enjoy your family, cherish them, hug and kiss them, because when its over, life will return to its normal pattern, and you will loose your gratitude.

Merry Christmas!... Happy Holidays?

Since the holiday season is coming up I thought I would address a growing controversy here in America. Years back, many companies said "Merry Christmas!" during these wonderful holiday times, but as political correctness has been emphasized in our society very recently, due to the tolerance and acceptance of other cultures, religions etc, and the expression has changed from Merry Christmas to "Happy Holidays!” Look as you watch commercials on TV. today, and see how many say happy holidays. Chances are you won’t see a specific reference to one particular Holiday.
Personally, I think that it would be a very... unintelligent business strategy to stick with only Merry Christmas, Or Happy Hanukah, because it would be met with very extreme views. Here is a recent Accurance of a large company referring to a specific holiday. As you could see, there were two very different responses. I like though what Best Buy is doing. They support all of the holidays, but they also refer to specific ones, to hit a target audience, making that group feel more special, for lack of a better word. I think there is very small minority of people that would actually refuse to shop at a store because they didn't specifically support their holiday. That is immature, if you wouldn't get upset at happy holidays, why would you get mad at a Happy Hanukah if you are Christian? Isn't it the same thing? Neither of them supports your holiday, why get upset at one?
As a Christian, I do appreciate it when I see a commercial that says Merry Christmas. I see it as, "wow they got a lot of guts to go out and say that." But I can understand when they say another holiday, they have to, it would be bad business.