Christmas is a time to take action

In a world that seems to be filled with trouble, poverty and war, I think it’s important to do all we can to change what we can. The Serenity Prayer pretty much sums it up. The Serenity prayer says, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.”

I grieve for all the people who are so badly affected by war and poverty. I pray and hope and wish for an end to war and hatred and violence. In addition to the prayers, hopes and wishes, we can do all within our power and circle of influence to make as many positive changes as we can control.  

Go back a few lines and re-read the Serenity Prayer above and let those words wash over you. Most of us will not be called upon to end war and poverty in far-away lands, but we are being called upon every day  to have the “Courage to change the things I can”.

Here’s some suggestions to ponder.

Go to church, a mosque, a temple or synagogue. Don’t get hung up on what the name on the building is, get hung up on what they teach and believe.

Maybe you haven’t ever been to a church, or it’s been a long time or your parents or grandparents used to go to church. Check out the churches in your area. No, they aren’t perfect. Or if they are, they won’t be after you to start attending. (Don’t take offence at that, it’s a joke).

Here’s another joke for you. If you won’t go to a church because of all the hypocrites that attend there, make sure you aren’t putting a hypocrite between you and God because that means they are closer to God than you are.

I think we all admire our ancestors to some extent. Every people group known to Canada has a background of establishing a place of worship. First Nations, Red River Metis, every settler group that has come to Western Canada (and that includes First Nations albeit they arrived a lot earlier than others) all set up a system and place of worship.

We all should be participating in and supporting what we believe in.

Here is another idea. As a society, we have taken a number of things out of our daily experience. Our public schools have taken away Bible readings and repeating the Lord’s Prayer. I can somewhat understand that we have many different beliefs but why can’t we sing O’Canada and God save the King? Sporting events do better than many other venues with anthems than the schools do. If people can’t sing O’Canada or God save the King, maybe they shouldn’t be in Canada. I get it. Canada has lots of faults and so does King Charles, I know that. But, Canada has done fairly well by us all and as much as we complain about Canada, our King and the British system of parliament, is there some other  place you would rather live?  To that I say, don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you on your way out the door.

And a bit more on churches if you will indulge me. Over the centuries, in spite of the problems churches have caused, we would not have as many hospitals as we have without the churches. Many hospitals were started by our churches. We would not have as many universities either. Brandon University,  University of Winnipeg, Canadian Mennonite University, Providence College, St. John’s College, St. Paul’s College are all church based and founded institutions. And I may have missed a few.

I firmly believe it is incumbent on us all to do more for God and Country. If you believe, as I do, that Canada is slipping as a country, then I implore you to reflect at this time as to what more you can do. 

At this Christmas season we must remain thankful to God for his provision and mercy. Christmas is a great time to think upon God and his Son Jesus. 

We are born, we live and then we die. God is good through it all and it is incumbent upon us all to live in his blessing and pass it along whenever and wherever we can.

May God bless you and yours this season and in the year ahead!

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the newspaper staff.