Create environment for true spirit of Christmas to abound

We, as a society and people, are fully into the Christmas season, including segments of the national community whose religious beliefs differ from those of the Christian faith. The social culture associated with the celebrations of the birth of Jesus, the Christ to Christians, is in full bloom. We are engaged in the shopping, planning for the family gatherings to come, and the anticipation of the giving and receiving of presents and with parang music reflecting another aspect of the multidimensional Trinbagonian culture.

It has become clichéd to ask the question as to whether the spirituality of Christmas, associated with the birth of Jesus Christ, has given way to making the season a completely secular event shorn of the Christ being sent by His Father, the Almighty God of creation, to bring renewal to mankind. All of the above, based on the foundational statements of the Holy Bible, the core document of Christianity, seems to be continuously experienced as a mere backdrop to our social celebrations.

It goes almost without saying that the date celebrated as the actual occasion of the birth of Jesus is one without foundation. It is well known that the 25th of December was adopted over hundreds of years as a time to remember and reflect on the Saviour of mankind as determined by the Christian faith.

But even in our secular celebrations, there is need to give meaningful and lasting consideration to the tens of thousands of citizens in our country and the billions worldwide who are incapable, because of their circumstances, to fully enjoy what’s on the menu and that which is placed around the Christmas tree.

Against the backdrop of all of the above, the spirituality and the physical Christmas celebrations, including the family gatherings and the sharing of love, there are increases as reported by the T&T Police Service in criminal activities; those who use the occasion to get what they consider to be their portion of the pie.

The outstanding challenge, which may have not even been considered, is how to share the spirituality of the Christ and so too the secularity which has adorned the celebrations over the millennia, and to do so outside of the season of Christmas.

The fact is that even if large portions of the population become fully involved in the sharing of gifts of goodwill during this period, that will not change the condition of the society as we know it.

Starting in the present, the effort to bring about a lasting environment which will transform the society to one that is truly concerned with the welfare of all, requires contemplation. It is a natural challenge which requires changing the manner in which the society is structured, the fact being that our present circumstances breed inequality from the cradle to the coffin.

The need is for all within the confines of Trinidad and Tobago to find systems, measures and a guiding philosophy to discover and implement ways and means to bring “peace on earth and goodwill to all men/women.” That is a task of continuous living and learning, becoming brave enough to acknowledge shortcomings and deficiencies in our humanity.