Our Christmas blessings

Merry Christmas to everyone. We all have so much to be thankful for and we welcome this special time of the year to remind ourselves and each other of the many joys, comforts and hopes we share in our  daily, but oh so busy, lives.
May the rush of yesterday’s worries be put to rest and the bothers and concerns of what we must do tomorrow be quieted. “Let’s have ourselves a merry little Christmas now.”
We know this has been a troubled world even before the times of the birth of Jesus Christ when Judea and most of the Middle East were occupied by a brutal and oppressive Roman Empire. Wars without end, mass emigration and refugees, famine, droughts and murderous religious crusades are our world’s history.
But so are great religious movements of charity and justice, a long march toward freedom and democracy, marvels of industry and agriculture and triumphs of human spirit and communal institutions.
Here at home this Christmas — far from the loud and angry bursts of hot TV news and the fear mongering by political candidates — all our real troubles are very small. Like the three wise men, or the shepherds under the Christmas Star, we know where to find our real blessings.
Celebrating another Christmas time in Sonoma County, we cannot find any other place or any other people who must be as blessed as we. We have peace and prosperity beyond what we should ask for. Any bothers or concerns for tomorrow are mostly about improving our quality of life, not fighting against tyrannical forces, pestilence or want.
Even the four-year drought may be ending for us as we again give thanks for another great harvest from our local farms, vineyards and markets. We have so much to be thankful for that our only disagreements are about having too much —too many new wineries, millions of visitors and changes to our landscape.
Our food pantries are full, even if not everyone yet has gained enough work or affordable shelter to win a fair share. But we are pledged to do better. One of our bigger blessings is the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the associated community food pantries.
Good weather, a bountiful harvest, a beautiful spot on Earth, who could ask for more? “Faithful friends who are so dear to us, gather near to us once more.” Christmas is a great time to gather and sing songs together.
We are blessed with very good schools, where public funding is again increasing after the Great Recession. We see the faces of Sonoma County’s future in these classrooms and we give praise to the diversity and harmony that our young people get to share. Unlike some other places, our conversations about education, culture or religion seem focused on unity, freedoms and opportunity and not bigotry, selfishness or idolatry.
Guns and violence are dominating topics elsewhere. Here in Sonoma County, we are moving past the initial anger and tragedy of the killing of Andy Lopez by a deputy sheriff. We are not marching in the streets now; we are meeting in circles to change police policies and increase awareness of how violence gets started.
We are blessed to have a growing economy again, one with very low unemployment and new challenges to boost hourly pay rates, expand educational opportunities and build affordable housing.
On main streets and around our downtowns and commercial hubs, our big complaint is about traffic or limited parking. Don’t tell Santa, but those are not real economic problems. The bigger problem would be a lack of traffic, less local commerce instead of more. Not that anyone is trying, but we couldn’t deny how blessed we are no matter how many “bah humbugs” we might bellow.
“Through the years, we all will be together.
“If the fates allow;
“Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
“And have yourself, a merry little Christmas now.”
— Rollie Atkinson