December 25, known and celebrated
universally as the festival of Christmas is a beacon of peace, joy and
happiness for all men of goodwill. It's in that spirit the world has come to
recognise the significance and profound meaning of giving, sharing and
loving. Christian values are rekindled by both, families and individuals
giving new meaning to family bonds and values through expressions of love
and service.
To give and to share has no
barriers or limitations regardless of the society we live in, whether in
Manipur our outside. All of us are born equal, but circumstances leads us to
our individual destinies. Yet, in a relentless effort to script our success,
we have all but forgotten those unfortunate people left out in this mad
race. Is this because most of us are too self-centred? Do Christmas values
have significance only at Christmas time? However, if we only pause to look
around, we will discover to our surprise, that in a fast moving and rapidly
changing, that in a fast moving and rapidly changing 'dog-bite-dog' world,
there are thankfully, some islands of hope of love and of concern for the
have nots' and for the economically weaker sections of our society.
This post-modern psyche of the
traditional Christmas carol will be seized upon by critics who deplore the
commercialisation of the yuletide season. True, the jungle bells associated
with X-mas are increasingly associated with the chimes of cash registers
ringing up sales, as Santa goes laughing 'Ho, ho, ho'... all the way to the
bank. Christmas has become a money-spinning industry, thanks to greeting
cards, gifts, get-together and the other bells and crackers of celebration.
No doubt, Christmas symbolistes
the true essence of love - an occasion when giving is more pleasurable than
receiving, when joy and good cheer penetrate every heart and home and
happiness reigns supreme.
The question that begs an answer
is 'should such happiness be a one day annual event, or can we stretch the
feeling of Christmas to last the whole year'. My answer is an empathetic
'yes', no matter what or who I (author) am?' We must do this now; else
never'. For as the noted writer Grellet has said "I expect to pass through
this world but once... Any good therefore I can do or any kindness I can
show to my fellow creatures, let me do it now - for I shall not pass this
again". It may seem strange, but it's also true that some of our finest
successfully, social projects were dreamed of and nurtured by a single
person who was possessed by a sense of determination and a mind set to
contribute to the welfare of society. Look around this small Imphal-city and
you will find some true noble projects such as children home,
drop-in-centre, free turtorial home (for children living below poverty line)
and so on... All these institutions have one common feature about them -
these are conceptualised by individuals who had no finances, but are blessed
with laudable ideas and the motivation to serve the people.
Just two years ago, when I first
came in contact with charitable activities, the impact was so-great and
rewarding that it entered every pore of my heart, such that today, I feel
glad I had given some of my time and knowledge to such causes with this
limited talent that God had given me. However, let me add that what I and my
family have received in so hugely satisfying, that it has no comparison to
what I had given.
So, all of us young and old alike
poor and rich, have a duty to give, to share and to heed the call of the
less unfortunate of our churches, society, nation's and the whole world.
Therefore, Christmas is a time of many gifts and the greatest of those gift
is Christmas itself which brings us all together to rejoice in our common
joys and cares.
