Week 24 - Reflecting on Christmas

In the run-up to Christmas many of us are looking forward to meeting up with family and friends, and we also think of those less fortunate than ourselves and those that dedicate their time to others.   

I’d like to thank all those people who keep us safe and well over the Christmas holiday.  Our armed forces, emergency services and NHS working throughout the weeks show dedication to helping others in need.   I’d also like to thank everyone working in the shops.  And volunteers who give up their time to help others. 

Many a community space across the district is hosting Christmas meals to help folk who are in need, or perhaps lonely.  Christmas can be a time when loneliness is particularly hard for some people. 

The voluntary sector organisations that enable these wonderful community events, the halls, the community transport, the groups of volunteers – are themselves in some need.  There are one or two locally that are right on the edge of survival and some that are looking into the future trying to work out how they can find the next grant, or the next few volunteers to keep them rolling forward. 

There is no doubt that times are tough.   Money is tight, and everyone is busier than ever.  However, this year I have met many people who have gained immense fulfilment in their volunteer work.  In a number of cases these are people who themselves benefited from the volunteer help in the first place. 

As a society we often place a lot of emphasis on the pursuit of money and assets, and less on the harder to measure human values.  And no doubt there are too many in our society who don’t have enough for everyday living.  But perhaps we need to look more at what else we need to be truly happy.   

In America we hear that Elon Musk may be about to become the first trillionaire – however many zeros that means.  I do wonder whether that is a good example of continuing success, or an example of some other unfulfilled need behind such an urgent drive to be the top dog.   

The ‘American Dream’ was coined from Thomas Jefferson’s quote of the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, but I wonder if it has been reduced into the pursuit of profit sometimes costing us the earth and our environment. 

However, Bill Gates of Microsoft fame is giving away his billions.  Taylor Swift’s donation to the Edinburgh food bank was quoted as making “a lasting impact on local families”.   It is a USA tradition that in later life people often leave much of their wealth to beneficial foundations, rather than trying to keep it.    

However you are spending your time, I hope that your Christmas is all that you hope for, and that you find your dream as much as possible.  And for those out on the front line, I would like to say thank you for all that you do. 

Happy Christmas.