Background Blurs

You know that precise moment in a movie when something bad is about to happen? When everything gets real quiet, the background blurs and time stands still for a split second? THAT is my life right now.

It's the holidays, folks... It's supposed to be a lovely time of the year, full of love, laughter and kindness towards our fellow man. Instead we get guilt, tirades and emotional baggage dumped on the nearest person. We get short tempers from hours of aggravation preparing for this wonderous occasion that we are too tired and frustrated to really enjoy properly. There's the shopping, the gift wrapping, the preparations and the hectic schedules to contend with. Working in retail gives one a unique observation point. You see how rude and surly people become when their merriment is made difficult, rather than keeping in mind that it's the spirit of the holidays that is important, NOT the gift. I also admit that the unrelenting hordes of shoppers get to me (and my fellow associates) and that our handling of situations may become a bit... short. What brought about this insanity? Obviously, it was not the birth of a babe in Bethlehem that caused this... when did Christmas become about PS2's and Xbox's rather than the birth of a child, wholly man and wholly God, who came to save our souls? How have we lost this vision so completely? I apologize here and now for my ill temperment this holiday season.

I really have nothing else of importance to say... Well, except this... Theresa, thank you! I needed that bit of wisdom and I'm grateful for it. I shall endeavor to remind myself daily of my love for those around me and for the joy that is possible in the small things.