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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-29, Page 66 Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Opinion Forum News Thoughts on Christmas Once again, we are in what we often refer to as the Christmas season. As such, I wish to share a few thoughts. Recently, I watched a news report about an organiza- tion that is collecting toys and food items to give to needy families for Christmas. It was a heart-warming report about people helping other people. Of course, the people who prepared the report had nothing but good intentions. And I certainly applaud the efforts of anyone who strives to help another person, at Christmas time or otherwise. However, there was something said in the report that got me thinking. It was said that many children would have no reason to celebrate this Christmas. Hmmm. To coin an often - used quote, "Houston, we have a problem." The inten- tion was to point out that some children wouldn't receive gifts this year because of financial need. However, to say that they would have no reason to cele- brate implies that our reason for celebrating hinges on receiving gifts. Is that why we celebrate Christmas? Do we celebrate our abundance? Do we celebrate getting together? Do we celebrate the act of celebrating? What, then, is our reason for celebrating? I seem to recall being taught that the gifts, decora- tions, turkey dinners, carols, etc., are all ways in which we celebrate something else. Does our reason for cele- bration disappear because the celebration itself is diminished? Are we celebrating for the sake of having a party? Or is there something more? For example, do we have birthday parties because we want to celebrate the party? No. We have birthday parties to celebrate the birth of a person. And so it is with Christmas. Now, this is the part that's not going to be politically correct — Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the one whom the Bible refers to as the Son of God. God Himself came to Earth as a baby, and was later crucified to pay the penalty for our sins, and then He rose again from the grave. He did this so that, by believing in Him, we humans may live for eternity with God. He's our one and only way into heaven; our salvation. Now that's worth celebrating. Whether you believe that part or not, it's still the rea- son we have Christmas. Now, let us examine our cele- brations, specifically the tradition of giving. I'm the sort of person who questions the reasons for doing things. To say, "That's what we've always done" just doesn't cut it with me. So why do we give gifts at Christmas? Apart from showing others we care, there are two rea- sons: 1. We follow the example of the Magi, who brought gifts to the child Jesus, in recognition that He was greater than any earthly king. 2. We remember that, because of His ultimate purpose of sal- vation, Jesus is God's greatest gift to humankind. So, giving and receiving gifts is part of the celebration, not the reason for it. As with all traditions, we can sometimes drift away from the original reason for doing a certain thing. I have nothing against the people who prepared that news report or the people involved in giving gifts to people in need. But let us not lose sight of the focal point of Christmas. The things we do in celebration of Christ's birth ought not to become the main thing. Christ is the main thing. So my heart aches for children who are "left out" at Christmas. Such is sometimes the result of a society's abundance. But we must never imagine that those chil- dren have no reason to celebrate. As long as we can remember the birth of Jesus Christ, and the salvation He brings, then we will all have reason to celebrate. THOMAS BAILEY Grand Bend Letters to the Editor Principal's message EXETER — On Thursday the Huron County Health Unit will hold its annual flu shot clinic for the students and staff of South Huron. Students should have received an informa- tion form last Friday, but if they missed get- ting one, more are available in the main office. The form provides information about the flu shot and has a space for students to fill in their names to get the shot. The purpose of the form is to provide the Health Unit with some idea of how many doses of the shot they will need Thursday. Students who forget to complete and hand in the form can still get the flu shot, as long as the Health Unit has a sufficient number of shots. All students in high school are old enough to pro- vide their own consent to have the flu shot, and occasionally students get the shot against the wishes of their parents. Any parents who do not wish their child to get a flu shot, should notify the school and we will do our best to abide by their wishes. However, if a student requests the shot, he/she has a legal right to get one. We have two important events happening next week, starting with the next School Council Community Forum Monday at 7 p.m. in the school library. The topic for this forum is "Listening to Your Teens," and our panel of experts will be teenagers themselves. We have lined up several students who responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to talk to parents about effective communication with teenagers. We encourage you to come out and find out what teenagers have to say about what works and what doesn't in parent -teen communication. This promises to be an enlightening and entertaining forum. The second event next week is our annual Christmas Concert, which will take place in the large gym Wed., Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. We invite you to come out and enjoy the talents of our bands and choir as they perform a variety of Christmas tunes. As usual, our Christmas concert will help support the Huron County Christmas Bureau and there will be a free will offering with all proceeds going to the Christmas Bureau. JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Meals on Wheels drivers needed EXETER — There's nothing like a hot meal and a warm smile deliv- ered right to your door. In Exeter, hot Meals on Wheels are delivered to individuals five days a week by dedicated volunteer drivers. The meals make a big difference in the lives of people who may not be able to live on their own without some help. "We have 31 drivers, many of them are couples, but we do need more help during holiday times or in winter when some of our drivers take holidays," says Marg Hayter, co-ordinator of the Meals on Wheels program for Town and Country Support Services. Town and Country counts on its volunteer drivers to help deliver the meals. Volunteers like Susan MacGregor and Jim Hughes enjoy helping out. "It's only three times a month and it takes about an hour of our day," Susan says. Jim adds, "It's a great way to give something back to the community." The Exeter Meals on Wheels pro- gram is in need of more drivers and Marg says, "It's a good deed to help someone who might need a little contact." Mary Stewart certainly appreci- ates the hot meal and the quick chat with the volunteers when they deliver her supper. To be a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program, contact Marg Hayter at Town and Country Support Services in Exeter 235- 0258. November is Diabetes Awareness Month November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and the Canadian Diabetes Association urges all Canadians to get serious about type 2 diabetes. Over two million Canadians have diabetes, and four out of five of these people will die of heart disease. One in three people with diabetes do not even know they have it, putting them at great risk of the costly and deadly complica- tions. If you have diabetes, you need to get serious about diabetes prevention. Find out your risk level and get an action plan at www.getserious.ca or contact the Canadian Diabetes Association at 1-800-BANTING (1- 800-226-8464). VICTORIA COATES (volunteer) Canadian Diabetes Association Hot meals — Mary Stewart, right, of Exeter appreciates receiving a hot Meals on Wheels from volunteer dri- vers Jim Hughes and Susan MacGregor. The program is in need of more volun- teer drivers. If you can help call Town and Country Support Services at 235-0258. (photolsubmit- ted) Public invited to report card unveiling EXETER — The public is invited to an inaugural Watershed Report Card unveiling Friday at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Administration Centre at Morrison Dam Conservation Area. Local landowners will find out how their watersheds compare with a provincial standard. Just as students get a report card assessing how they're doing and what they can improve, the Watershed Report Card will provide evaluation of the state of the local environment and next steps for future improvement. The unveiling is scheduled for 1 p.m. Healthy watersheds specialist Mari Veliz said the A, B, C and D grades are likely to capture the public's attention but added that the real value of the Watershed Report Card will be to provide recommen- dations on how to improve their local environment. "We don't expect to change watershed grades overnight but the new Report Card document will pro- vide information on the watersheds as they exist, goals for the future and practical ways to improve local ecosystems," Veliz says. "The Report Card also gives `thumbs up' to those people already engaged in beneficial practices and watershed stewardship," Veliz adds. The 2007 ABCA Watershed Report Card has been developed over the past year with review by a large committee of diverse stakeholder groups. It includes informative four-page reports for 16 local watersheds. The public unveiling of the Watershed Report Card is the final event for the year-long 60th Anniversary cele- brations of the ABCA, Ontario's first Conservation Authority. The report card is being launched as the 60th of 60 projects undertaken in 2006 as part of the anniversary celebration. For more information visit www. abca. on. ca