Thoughts about Goodwill and Bad

by Gene Shelburne

It’s Christmas, when even people with a year-round “Bah! Humbug!” attitude generally soften up just a bit. But it’s been an unusual world since September 11th, and in some ways the presence of terrorism has produced its own counterpoint of a gentle spirit felt across the nation.

The spirit of giving began three months ago with well over a billion dollars being raised for terrorism victims. The outpouring of goodwill continues toward fire fighters, police, and emergency workers who sacrificially risk their lives as they go about their daily work. And the media reports that normally hard-nosed New York City is listed as being right up there with genteel Charleston, South Carolina, as the nation’s most friendly city.

Even as the war continues in Afghanistan, efforts are being made to get relief supplies to its suffering citizens before winter closes in on the mountain ranges reaching out from the formidable Hindu Kush.

This is not to suggest that all goes well with the world. As I write, we’ve recently viewed bin Laden’s gleeful account of death and destruction at the Trade Towers, and it is appalling. His fiendish performance recorded on film should assure his place in history’s archives of evildoers.

Perhaps we should remember that Jesus was not born into a nice world. Herod the Great, king at the time, could easily be termed Herod the Terrorist. His little chat with the eastern Magi was not an inquiry about adding his personal gift to the gold, incense, and myrrh they were taking as presents for the newborn king. This evil man even murdered his own family members to protect his crown, and when he ordered all Bethlehem area boys two years and younger slaughtered, he was acting well within his usual character.

Jesus is a light shining in a dark place, and the Bible reveals that darkness has trouble understanding what light is all about. People who prefer darkness might think it’s fine to slaughter Bethlehem’s baby boys or New York’s citizens. Goodwill is out of place in their shadow-world.

The light of Christ continues to shine. Brightly. Because it does, we see grace, love, faith, hope, truth, purity, gentleness, and joy in the world. Also peace and goodwill. Here’s a goodwill wish that we all may avoid the dark places and have lives filled with the Lord’s light. Thank God for good Christmases and safe New Years—and may “Bah! Humbug!” be far from us!