Be Nice

Third Week of Advent; Luke 3:10-18

When the people asked him, “What should we do?”

John replied, “Let the one with two coats share with the one who has none. Let those who have food do the same.”

Not too far from our home, our city has a large park. Every year they decorate the trees along the road with lots of white lights. And then, during their “Holiday-Fest”, they flip a switch and illuminate a large pine tree with mostly blue lights, but many other colors as well. It’s our city’s official Christmas tree.

I have to say, it is a beautiful sight. Whether we are just driving past in the evening or actually stop to walk around a bit. In the midst of our larger-than-most city, this becomes a little oasis of peace and joy. Everyone who joins us in strolling amidst the lights is in a good mood. It’s a joy to see the children running from tree to tree, oohing and ahhing at all the colors and bright lights.

To me, it’s a small image of what our world could look like one day. Smiles, not scowls. Laughter, not anger. Greetings, not avoidance. Happiness, not despair. As John Lennon once sang, “Imagine all the people, Livin' life in peace.”

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptizer lays out some very simple guidelines for people in all walks of life. If I may be presumptuous to summarize his words, John told everyone, “Just be nice to everyone.” It’s really not so difficult. We don’t need deep theological discussions to understand John’s words or the teaching’s of Jesus. “Just take care of each other.”

If your house is anything like ours, the stress is starting to build. Do we have enough gifts? Do we have the right gifts? What will the Christmas menu be? Who do we invite? Are we leaving anyone out? We’ve already started the “next year we are going to do it like this” discussions too. But we won’t. And that’s okay. We do what we do as best as we can. All the while remembering that we are so much more fortunate than so many others in our city, in our state, nation and the world. And so, we do what we can to offer hope to the forgotten in our society as well.

“On that day this must be the message to Jerusalem:

Fear not, Zion, let not your hands hang limp in despair,”

[Zephaniah 3:16]

That line will be my guiding light this week. No fear, because, in spite of all the struggles in my life and in the world, the light of peace fills my soul. There are so many things I could be and should be doing that would bring me closer to the love of God and the peace of Christ. But I will not allow my arms to hang in despair. By consciously seeking to be aware of the presence of God, I will get closer and closer to knowing God’s love and peace that surrounds me whether or not I am aware of it.

And on that day, that must be my message to the world: No fear; only love, peace and joy. The lights of the season are a tangible reminder that there is a God who brings joy into our world. If only I seek to be aware. And just be kind to everyone I encounter.

Every Day.

© 2024 by Timothy J. Doppel

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