’Tis the season

Richard Fulton

A story from the Washington Post:

“The London restaurant’s offer started with a simple note, handwritten on a sheet of white paper. “No one eats alone on Christmas Day!” it read, “We are here to sit with you … Any homeless or elderly are welcomed.”

There will be a three-course meal: a Turkish soup and yogurt dip to start, then a choice of chicken or vegetable casserole, and rice pudding for desert. You see, this is a Turkish restaurant owned by a devout Muslim.

“It’s not about religion, language or culture,” he said. “It’s about community.”

And, indeed it must be, because 40-50 people in the community volunteered to help cook and clean, as well as, drive people on Christmas.

“In the culture we come from, we really love to help people no matter what race or religion they are,” Owner Irsan Genc said.

Try to remember this when you read the headlines that seem to accuse all Muslims of hatred because of the few. This is not an isolated story.

You might remember also the story of the Muslim businessman in Baghdad who erected the tallest Christmas tree in town as a gesture of solidarity with Christians during the holiday season. Why? He wanted to “join our Christian brothers in their holiday celebrations and help Iraqis forget their anguish …”

It cost him $24,000.

There are thousands of such stories all around the world. Let me share one from the community of Ralston, Nebraska shared by the Omaha World-Herald.

Dee Huff had been a long-time educator in town as well as children’s librarian at the local public library. She has spent a lifetime reaching out to children. Unfortunately, she is in the midst of a battle with breast cancer.

Dee is one of those folks that just loves Christmas, so a group of friends and neighbors organized a Christmas carol sing for her. It found its way onto Facebook.

Dee was told that members of a local baseball team were going to stop by last Sunday and sing a few carols. She thought that would be a nice gesture. So, she bought a few cookies to share with the carolers.

When the time came and the knock at the door signaled the arrival, Dee and her husband quietly opened the door.

What they saw was a crowd of more than 150 people breaking into song. “Friends, family, former students, co-workers and everyone in between” stood in the freezing weather happy as penguins.

“I don’t know of any better gift you can give a man,” Bill Huff, Dee’s husband, said to the crowd. Dee was a bit overwhelmed herself.

What she said was: “I didn’t get enough cookies.”

Communities across the country and across the world are coming together with similar stories demonstrating their love. We must remember this when the mean part of the world grabs the headlines and thrusts us into the despair of hopelessness.

You could share stories of Maryville folk reaching out to others and celebrating the joys of family, friends, and community. Dozens of community organizations are active not only at Christmas, but throughout the year helping each other and spreading the joys of love of neighbors and community.

Here’s hoping that you and yours get opportunities to share this wonderful community during this wonderful season. It would be a good time to suspend the conflicts that divide us and to remember the promises of Christmas. Whatever your ethnicity, faith, — or, dare I say — political leanings.