December 2024, New York, NY…, The Christmas Season is one of the most joyous times of the year. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus, the light of the world! For many, Christmas traditions include trimming trees, stuffing stockings, giving gifts, and gathering with friends and family for dinner. For some, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the holiday office party(ies) and Christmas bonuses.
A few years ago, we celebrated the Christmas Season during a devastating pandemic. We got through it because we refused to be distressed, dismayed, or discouraged, trusting and knowing that God had a plan.
This year, we are celebrating the Christmas Season following an election season. For many (and I count myself among the many), the results of the 2024 election were devastating. The victory many prayed for didn’t happen. Our hopes were dashed. Many said the election would be historic. They were right for all the wrong reasons, and a twice-impeached former president and convicted felon will hold the highest office in the land for the next four years. Once again, we will not be distressed, dismayed, or discouraged. We will survive, trusting and knowing that God has a plan.
HEALING & DECOMPRESSION
On Wednesday, November 6th, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located in upper Manhattan in New York City, held an interfaith post-election day service. The invitation to the service read as follows:
“We are people of moral courage. We are guided by the shared values of dignity, justice, and peace. These values don’t change with each election cycle. In this moment of waiting and uncertainty, as our country determines our next elected leaders, we choose to step forward as people of faith – standing firm in who we are and who God has called us to be. We choose to reaffirm our commitment to one another and these shared values, knowing that when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the struggle for justice, we are more powerful, more sustainable, and closer to a world where the dignity of all is recognized and upheld.”
Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, Pastor of Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, and the Paul Robeson Ensemble participated in the service. Clergy from various faiths offered prayers for healing, dignity, peace, and justice. Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network (NAN), gave the closing prayer. It was a wonderful gathering.
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH – “Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow; to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
The song was written by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller in 1955 and is performed worldwide throughout the year, particularly during the Christmas season. In 1967, Mahalia Jackson sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth” at her concert in Berlin. The words were powerful in 1955 and 1967 and are just as impactful today, perhaps even more so.
It’s a tall order, and it isn’t easy, but let’s give peace a chance. Rather than settling our disputes with violence and bloodshed, let’s try talking to each other, especially to those on the other side. Political scientists, campaign strategists, and historians will dissect and analyze the results of the 2024 election for years to come. In the meantime, let’s prepare our hearts for the coming of the Prince of Peace. Let peace begin with us. There is no better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas, and God’s greatest gift to humanity.
Merry Christmas!
