Christmas, 2022

In the aftermath of one of the coldest and most brutal weather events in recent history, Christmas is still arriving.  People will dig out, presents will appear, and hopefully a little warmth will return.

It hasn’t been an easy year.  Inflation, war, hunger, hatred, and a seemingly endless cycle of infectious disease.  It’s been tough.

Plenty of things will be coming at us in the year ahead.  Immigration questions, an uncertain economy, wars, and rising inequality, all occurring on an increasingly crippled planet.  For the record, I’ll have plenty to say about all of them in the months ahead.

In the meantime, a couple of readers have asked if Jesus will make another blog appearance, like he did last year in the https://afamilydoctorlooksattheworld.com/christmas-2021/ post.  So at the risk of offending anyone, here’s another letter as I imagine Jesus would likely submit.

Hello everyone.  Jesus here.  Has it actually been a whole year? 

I’m not sure I have much new to offer.  If you’re looking for some sort of additional wisdom or insight, you’re going to be disappointed.  Everything important I had to say came out two thousand years ago, and most of it you’ve either forgotten or just don’t want to listen to. 

But it still pains me to see what you’ve been doing to each other down there.  People are freezing in Ukraine, at least those who haven’t been killed in the streets.  Children are shooting each other all across America. Food is vanishing in Africa.  Cholera and anarchy are thriving in Haiti. And no one seems to notice or care.

Yes, I realize there may not be much you can do about this as individuals.  But at least you could be better to one another.

I guess that’s why I really get miffed when you use my name to justify something that’s just the opposite of what I taught.  Don’t get me started on how many religious conflicts are being fought right now. 

Eighty years ago, the Nazis went into battle with the words “God With Us” emblazoned on their belt buckles. And now, religious leaders all over the world still try to use religion to justify their little wars.  Sometimes, even the same religion in the same war. 

The Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Churches each support different sides in the killing.  According to some Russian priests, soldiers dying in the war will have their sins absolved, as long as they’re fighting for Russia.  Not that long ago, Irish Catholics and Protestants were saying basically the same thing.

Don’t ask me where you come up with this stuff.

Much as I try to understand you people, I can’t.  Some of you self-proclaimed Christians carried crosses to the U.S. Capitol while police were being beaten.  Some prayed one minute and shouted “hang Mike Pence!” the next.

And it sure doesn’t seem like much has changed.  Just the other day I saw a bumper sticker that read “Jesus is my Lord and Trump is my President.”

Really?  Do you have any idea how insulting that sounds?  Back in Exodus, the Law says “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”  If I wasn’t such a nice guy, that character would be driving his car straight into the Sun right now.

I could go on and on, but I won’t.  The truth is, I still have faith in you people.  There are times when I see enormous acts of kindness.  I’ve seen some of you sacrifice incredibly to help those in need.  I’ve seen tears turn to smiles with just a few words.

I just don’t understand why you don’t do it more often.  The opportunity won’t come around again.

No matter your religion, you people do have a thing for holidays, don’t you?  Christmas in a few days, just as Hanukkah wraps up. Kwanza next.  Muslims will begin the Ramadan fast in March.  Hindus will celebrate Diwali in November.

Each will underscore faith, generosity, and sharing.  I just wish they all would last a little longer.

So maybe that’s my thought for this year.  Take care of each other.  Take care of the Earth.  I don’t care how much crap Elon Musk tries to sell you, you won’t be able to bail out of the Earth and live on Mars. Take care of the place you have right now, for your children’s sake.

Maybe this letter will be an annual event if Frey keeps writing his Blog.  Who knows? 

But one thing is certain.  The acts of kindness you show to one another will last much longer than any of you will as individuals.  And those things will define your legacy to a much greater degree than who you voted for or which church you wandered in and out of.

Something to think about.

See you down the road.

Jesus