A Special Time of Year

Now that Thanksgiving has passed and the hope, joy and comfort of the holiday has passed, I wonder how many stop and think of how blessed we are compared to the hundreds of thousands of our fellow countrymen who have had little or nothing to celebrate. I believe it's time to reflect on this special time of year that in our country there are thousands who may not have found these times as joyful and rewarding as we have found for ourselves. Perhaps it's time to ask ourselves, "What have we done to help those around us who may be suffering from the frustrations and angst of long unemployment, the loss of their home and sometimes even an entire family? Each day I get sick of the news which reports our feeding people and rebuilding lives in other countries which is gracious, well and good...but are we often forgetting our very own? I believe we spend more time in other countries than we do right here at home! We have so many Americans whose lives are filled with tragedy each day, I think we need to concentrate on really helping them....perhaps more so than those who belong to another country. Yes...I see the daily TV videos of wonderful organizations reaching out to provide for our fellow Americans who still suffer from hunger, little clothings and not much of a home...but I often wonder at this time of year, do we really reach inside ourselves and understand the true meaning of each of our wonderful holidays during this special time of year? As my wife Donna drives me across town to see the doctors...I see people who walk with baskets from grocery stores filled with clothes and their personal belongings knowing well they have no home and maybe no family or warm bed on which to sleep. Yes I see this many times during the year but ...I especially feel it more during these holidays. I wonder, What can each of us do that might enrich their lives...even for but a moment? We are always so engrossed with our work and our lives but it only takes a little time out of our busy day or weekend to offer a meal, a warm coat, an hour of our time to those who go to sleep each night not knowing if they will have a meal for their family or as I said, a bed on which to sleep..or perhaps a new job and, maybe a new beginning come morning.

I am truly grateful for my wonderful family who even in distance, surrounds me with their comfort and love and the knowledge that they are blessed to be able to celebrate with a little more than the simple comforts of life. I am blessed having regained my health after a year-long battle resulting from three surgeries and a nasty bout of two staph infections picked up at the hospital. I look forward to seeing each day getting better so that one day I will walk and stand without pain. I know I will have to continue to take the six antibiotics each day for many years to come....But, as long as I can give something to others...even an inspirational thought about a better tomorrow...or to be able to regain some momentum to once again rejoin the Metro Denver Volunteers, whose work enables others' lives to become enriched by the projects and non-profits they serve..and the smiles they bring to many each day...I can then say...I am more fulfilled during this special time of year. For many, Chanukkah begins tonight, December 1st, and lasts for eight wonderful days and the candles that are lit light for each day remembering us that when the Temple of the Jews was destroyed centuries ago and when they ventured inside to begin rebuilding it as they have had to do each time it was destroyed, they discovered in the darkness of ruin but one small urn or lamp with only enough oil to last for but a day...but behold!... a miracle happened and the oil burned for eight days...Hence the "Celebration of Lights" as it is called, Hanukkah. Right after Hanukkah comes the magnificent beauty of Christmas....a time to celebrate the joy of sharing and giving....the smells of sweet things in the oven..and the gorgeous lights which adorn the homes and buildings in the city. But again, I ask myself, during this holiday that is filled with thousands of people streaming malls and filling bags of plenty, are we doing enough to reach out and do something of value to bring some small thread of hope to some of those who hover beneath bridges on freezing nights or those who can not buy more than one simple meal for their family? What joy can we to bring them...during this special time of year?

I wish all who read this little blog a most wonderful holiday season and may G-d bless you and your families and homes with continued joy and abundance...especially good health...and a very Happy New Year...with employment for those in need, a health plan from which we can all benefit...and the recovery of a long and painful economy...and a special wish that those whom we elected will serve our country...by the people and for the people and that finally, our congress and senate can come together as one nation filled with liberty and justice to serve us all....and G-d Bless America!! Philip Jay LeNoble, Ph.D.