Home Letters We pray for a healing and reconciliation process at Christmas
Dear Editor,
There is no doubt that musicians have contributed a healthy number of songs associated with each season and Christmas is included of course. A specific category of songs is not limited to a specific period.
These songs, especially for this season of the year, Christmas, are eternal; not limited for a moment in history, but it will be forever.
Shakespeare summed up, having listened to some of these, saying, “If music is the food of love, play it forward.” And Christmas songs will continue to play on because it’s really a season of love.
If I’m not mistaken, the songs have a unifying effect on the national community as a whole, be it a city, town, district or village. For at least a moment in history, it is always good to see family, friends, loved ones, colleagues in whatever profession, even bitter enemies, use this term to repair broken relationships, to build new bridges. This, it is said, can have a cascading effect so that our nation can cross the rivers of disappointments, doubts and differences, which I know everyone is praying for.
Yes, the Christmas spirit is not about what one can buy to wear, eat, or drink for one season only; it is about the love that marks the occasion that can bring lasting peace for the benefit of all, forever, for all generations.
While Shakespeare declared love music to be the food of love, I think it essentially means the kind of music that must be in our hearts for us to commit ourselves, individually, as well.
That is, nurturing love, unity and peace around us. If we were playing the wrong kind of music, ie, adopting the wrong attitudes towards others, thereby creating suspicion in our fellow human beings, it will be completely out of the Christmas spirit.
When we as a nation celebrate Christmas this year in whatever way it is done, let us pray for our entire Guyanese nation, let us pray for a process of healing and reconciliation, for love to be fulfilled. We pray for the leaders of our country so that our country can go, shine and grow.
Let us proclaim it from the tops of the mountains: It has come to bring “peace on earth, good will to all men.”
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Correctly,
Joseph C Atkinson
272544