Mark's blog

"Bring me into the company of those who seek the truth,

and deliver me from those who have found it."

- André Gide

Soon, another Christmas will have come and gone. Gifts that were the wrong size, not needed or not wanted will have been returned. The Christmas parties and banquets will be over. People will be celebrating the start of a new year, and making resolutions. There will be the usual, often short-lived pledges to quit smoking, lose weight, and watch less television, TikTok or YouTube. Here’s an idea for a resolution that should be easier to keep. How about resolving to make next Christmas more meaningful?

   I was born into a well-off and well-educated family, but, due to social circumstances mostly beyond my control and influence, I spent my adolescence and adulthood mostly among social pariahs; the misfits, rejects, undesirables and untouchables. However, the advantage of that path through, and perspective upon, life was to learn quite readily that social classes are illusions, and that we're all misfits and rejects to some degree, even, and perhaps especially, the "one-percenters".

One dictionary defines a leader as “one who shows or conducts the way; a chief or commander.” In another, the meaning is given as "a directing, commanding or guiding head.” There are other meanings to the word, such as "the short length of line used to attach a fishing lure", and "an article offered at low price to attract customers." While the last two could well be used to symbolize some less than desirable aspects of our country's political processes, especially at election time, it is the first two definitions which describe the meanings that usually apply to politics.

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.
- Georg C. Lichtenberg

“If we stay where we are, where we're stuck, where we're comfortable and safe, we die there. We become like mushrooms, living in the dark, with poop up to our chins. If you want to know only what you already know, you're dying. You're saying: Leave me alone; I don't mind this little rathole. It's warm and dry. Really, it's fine.
   -- Anne Lamott

Certain aspects of Hallowe'en and Christmas as they are celebrated represent a lot of things about our culture that need to be improved. New Year celebrations are about as meaningful as the odometer on your car reaching 100,000. But Thanksgiving, if it's done well, brings out the best in even the worst of us. Thanksgiving (like Valentine's Day) ideally would be every day.