Merry Christmas 2010 !
¡Feliz Navidad 2010!

By Hilbert Morales, EL OBSERVADOR

Feliz Navidad/Merry Christmas 2010. What are some of the gifts which our communty needs today? One gift of $14,000 was presented to the Sacred Heart Community Center by Comerica Bank. This is an extraordinary gift because Sacred Heart Community Center is providing essential food to an increased number of needy.
This past Saturday, at the McEnery Convention center, volunteers assembled 2,400 bikes. Two hundred of these bikes were distributed to youth living in the Somos Mayfair community. In addition ,Valley Transit Authority (VTA) had the objective of filling one bus with toys. They were thrilled to have two bus loads of toys donated by a concerned giving public. The Rotary Club of San Jose also collected toys at their most recent meeting at the Rotary Summit Center. Many organizations are distributing Christmas food baskets to needy families they know about.
It seems that despite these trying economic times, many are concerned enough to ensure that the children get to experience Christmas in a joyful manner. Quite often, too many do not have the bare essentials required: food, clothing and shelter.
May all our readers reach out to make someone’s Christmas become merry and bright. Many firms and organizations are having frugal Christmas parties this year. It seems appropriate to remind all that despite the current economic challenges being faced, our communities have much to celebrate this Christmas. Religious faith groups are making an extra effort to reach out to those who need some compassionate human contact. This is a manifestation of a primordial human hunger to be in a relationship. While independence is often touted, in the end each of us wants to have access to the spirit of being a family member or accepted as a member of some community group.
In this materialistic and competitive capitalistic environment, Christmas is the one time when many realize that certain spiritual values are not only important, but essential. A human being cannot be human except when in relationship in a loving respectful manner with another human being. Having great wealth does not ensure having great human relationships. In like manner, being poor and destitute does not prevent one from having great human relationships.
Many avoid thinking about God who is everywhere; God who is omnipotent; and God who is concerned and loving about us humans. We often fail to admit that we do not control nor manage things in this world very well. Humans do have the potential of ‘creating heaven on earth’ if we can get beyond our wars, conflicts, and petty fights. We do seem to lose this perspective easily. We are fortunate to live in a society wherein inclusive diversity exists as a work in progress. We are not ‘there’ yet, but all of us need to take a moment to thank God for the blessings we take for granted, and for the opportunities enjoyed. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”
What does El Observador give at Christmas time? Fortunately, EO provides information about community activities, needs and challenges. Those of you who provide us with information about the ‘happenings and celebrations’ are a godsend to EO. Those of you who are supportive as affiliates are extremely valuable to EO which is doing its best to be the multimedia information distribution service which keeps this community informed. It is that information which permits the community to function as a mosaic of related components.
Christmas is about community, friends, family and our personal relationship with the religion of our own choice. In the Christian religious faith, this is the time of advent which has a spirit of preparation, expectation and anticipation for the arrival of the Messiah (Baby Jesus). It is a matter of faith that many believe and practice Christianity. It is at this time that we should all read the beatitudes which were presented by Christ some 2,000 years ago (The Holy Bible, King James Version, Luke 6:20-39 and Matthew 5:3-11). Ponder them and realize that human needs have not changed over the mellenia. Individuals need acceptance , respect and tender loving care. Remember that “for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Feliz Navidad/Merry Christmas.∆