Recently, one of the small towns that make up my community
has come under attack. Why? Supposedly, it is because of “Religion”. I feel
however that it is because of a misunderstanding and a choice.
See, supposedly someone was offended by a nativity scene
decoration on the lawn of “the square”, which is the place right in the middle
of the town where the court house and other government buildings are located.
I think however there is a big misunderstanding though. Some
people want to believe that when others talk about Jesus or God that they are
trying to change someone’s mind. I know they are wrong.
To illustrate I’ll just make it a bit more personal since to
me, it is very personal.
When I write personal pieces, comments on social websites,
when I speak to crowds or in normal everyday conversations, anyone who has read
or heard what I have to say will not that I often mention God, or Jesus, or The
Holy Spirit, or the fact that I’m blessed or something of that nature.
Most people who know me realize that I am not proselytizing,
making an “argument” for Christianity, or trying to persuade anyone. When I talk
about Jesus, my personal Savior and Lord I am mentioning my love, my friend,
the most important thing in my life.
Think about it, when you begin a relationship with anyone, you talk
about them- a lot. When you meet someone you hold in high esteem, you also
mention that you have met them, that you know them, the name comes up in
conversation, a lot. I think that is why I talk about Jesus, God, so much.
While I have known Him intimately for several years now, (since October 27,
1993) I fall in love with Him afresh every day; a lot like I do with my
husband, but even more so.
Every morning when I wake up I’m amazed at all the wonders
that God has made available to us. Personally, I remember every morning that my
life wasn’t always so blessed and I thank God because I know He is the
difference. I thank God that I have a home because I have been homeless and
that I have food because I have known hungry. I thank God that can feel love
because I see and hear hate all over when I watch the news, or turn on the
computer, listen to the radio, or even sometimes just go to Wal Mart. I knew
rage and pain and abuse at one time and now my life is filled with peace and
hope and goodness. You better believe when I wake in the mornings I thank God
for this life and lest you think my life is idyllic or I’m some sort of Pollyanna,
think again. I know personally the ravages of living in this world and I make a
choice, every day, not to pursue pain and meanness and hate.
I make a choice and my choice is Jesus.
I don’t condemn anyone who doesn’t make that choice and it
isn’t fair that anyone should demand that I change mine. This is where the
nativity comes in; that scene is a celebration to me. When we have a baby we
send out announcements, we call people, we give silly candy cigars to everyone
we meet, even strangers. They don’t have to take them but we do because we are
happy, proud, celebratory, over this blessed event in our lives. Every time I see
that decoration on the lawn in the square in Athens I am reminded of the
celebration of the birth of one very dear to me. I don’t get upset because
there are Santa decorations, or little elves or gnomes. I don’t celebrate these
things but it doesn’t bother me that others do. So why does it bother others so
much that I celebrate the way I, and so many others have chosen to?
I believe I know why. I believe that because they have
chosen not to believe in God, or Jesus, they think we, those who do believe,
are trying to change their minds. Well, I’d like to send a message to anyone
who doesn’t believe in God or Jesus, ready? RELAX. No one is trying to change
your mind. We are not trying to make you celebrate anything you don’t want to
but it is wrong for you to “demand” that I not celebrate something so dear to
me.
And since the Constitution was brought into this local
matter, The Constitutional declaration that separates “church and state” was
included so that no government would be able to force any citizen to
practice a particular faith choice.
The local government ALLOWS citizens to erect the
decorations, it does NOT REQUIRE that they do.
That same Constitution, that by the way I hold very dear to
my heart as well, says that I have the right to free speech too, just as we all
do, and to the pursuit of happiness. There you have it. Jesus makes me happy. He
makes a lot of us in this area happy, and we have every right to demonstrate
that happiness by erecting decorations that display that happiness anywhere it
is lawful.
Since no laws were broken, and the local government didn’t
force anyone to erect those decorations, it seems this was just all a big
misunderstanding over choice.
So now we can all go back to decking the halls. Merry
Christmas, oh and Happy Holidays if you don’t celebrate Christmas.
