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And its Christmas again. The time of the year when every corner of every house is filled with joy and Christmas spirit. Every child is filled with excitement, every parent cherishing their children, every grandparent lovingly look at their family, what they have established, what they have accomplished. The result of their hard work, their experiences, their life.
Sadly, there's also a darker side to this holiday. All the children dreadfully awaiting the time of the year when they feel the loneliest and saddest. The time of the year their parents misery once again strike down on them the hardest. When their father fall asleep, drenched in urine, under what were supposed to be a Christmas tree. When their mother, once again asleep over the kitchen table with a broken wine glass and an empty bottle cheap whiskey besides her, with a cigarette hanging from the tip of her fingers. What will this child, barely seven, tell her teacher when asked what he, along with his classmates, got for Christmas? What lie can he come up with this year to avoid embarrassment?
For many children, every holiday is a nightmare. A nightmare they'd rather not having to go through for the eight year in a row. When their teacher, joyful and happy after a long weekend when she's been able to relax, cheerfully asking her pupils how their holiday have been. Handing out pens to let them share their experience with her, or in some cases, make up yet another lie.
Christmas, Easter and Halloween are in many cases no escape from the busy everyday life, only a horrible weekend stuck in repeat.
Christmas is a time originally meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The presents representing the three gifts he got from the three kings. One from each one. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. As I'm sure most of you know, he later died for our sins. Sins that mankind.
Lust (Luxuria)
Gluttony (Gula)
Greed (Avaritia)
Sloth (Acedia)
Wrath (Ira)
Envy (Invidia)
Pride (Superbia)
Lust is actually only later translated in to lust. The original meaning is luxury, deriving from the latin Luxuria. It is the sin where you can't hinder to fulfill your desires, in short, thus why its later changed to lust, and is often associated with only sexual lust. In short, though, it is when oyu live in luxury. Not necessarily that you're rich, it can be any kind of luxury, both emotional and physical, such as sex whenever you want it (thus "Lust). Sensual, carnal and physical enjoyment, or luxury.
The latin word for Gluttony, is Gula (=lesser throat, neck, gullet, maw and appetite. Also alcoholism). The word gluttony, on the other hand, derive from the word gluttire (=uncommon swallow, gulp down). Basically, overeating, or over consumption, of not only food, but anything. Such as buying things you don't really need, like a second car, a second TV, a second computer, more food than you can eat. Or anything you don't really need. And yes, it can be argued that you don't need a television at all.
Greed, aka. Avaritia (=greed, avarice, rapacity, miserliness, stinginess, meanness). Basically, greed. This one is a true translation. Always wanting more, be so money, items, or power. The last two go hand-in-hand. It is also doing things for your own gain, such as bribing. However, in the most common sense, it is the desire for wealth.
Sloth, Acedia (=fatigued, tired, read: weariness of body and/or soul). Mainly, laziness, indifference, and passivity to obeying God, or putting other earthly masters above God. Also Akedia, from Greek, and means "absence of care" to God, or others suffering. Also not realizing ones full potential, or working to do ones best.
Wrath, Ira(=anger, ire, wrath, resentment, indignation, rage/fury/violence, bad blood.). This is the sin of a strong sense of justice. However, not the normal justice, but the sense of justice arriving from ones own anger, hatred and jealousy. Such as murdering someone for having sex with your wife, or beating someone up for having it better than yourself. In other words, revenge.
Envy, Invidia (=hate/hatred/dislike, envy/jealousy/spite/ill will, use of words/acts to arouse) Envy is the sin where you desire something someone else has that you don't. It can be power, love, children, or more material things such as money or a car. Often related to, and cause for, wrath. Robbery, violence etc. Also the sin where you wish bad things to happen to others.
Last we have Pride, Superbia (arrogance, pride, haughtiness). This is not the sin where you are proud of hat you've accomplished, what you know etc. It is more a sin where you do not acknowledge other's successes, do not compliment others that may need them, and ignoring those less fortunate, thinking they deserve it. Loving oneself so much that you have no respect for others is a prime example.
Now you might ask yourself, why is he listing the seven deadly sins? And at Christmas time? I'm doing it for the reasons stated above. We celebrate Christmas due to the birth of Jesus. No, I'm not a Christian, but I feel we've lost what Christmas is about. Generosity, spreading joy and happiness, helping others less fortunate. What we do, however, is a perversion of true Christmas spirits. In ancient times, we made the gifts we gave away. It wasn't something truly amazing, like a new television or a Playstation 3. It could be things like Myrrh or Frankincense, or a felted bracelet. You didn't only give it to your family, you gave it to your neighbors, and other people less fortunate. While we consume things more then ever (I bet Christmas once again broke a new sales record this year), and give each other things we don't really need, we completely ignore those less fortunate. Did you do something truly meaningful this year, something that could completely light up another person's life?
While we live in luxury, over-consumption (especially during Christmas), excess (and encourage each other's excess by giving each other gifts), and in most cases, a complete lack of acknowledging other's misery, others aren't as fortunate. For example, Sweden have a foundation called "BRIS" (children's right in society), where children in need can call. However, they are closed on holidays. Where exactly are children supposed to call those days? While the people working there are home having fun with their family and enjoying themselves, children in need have to wait.
I believe this is the case in most countries. And I feel we should all follow Thailand's example. To celebrate their king's 80'th birthday, they couldn't think of anything to give to their king. So instead, they decided to give a gift that really matters. To not only the king and themselves, but to everyone. Thus, as the gift, they decided to give away 10 billion good deeds (don't remember the exact number, but it was quite a bit). That is truly an amazing gift to give to someone. The person that thought of that should really be awarded a prize.
So, what if, besides the usual Christmas celebration, you do one good deed for every day of December. Can be helping someone out, giving money to charity etc. That, if anything, is what Christmas is about. Not sinning. So help out. Help adding your straw to the ant nest. Make the world a better place, not only for yourself, but your children and everyone else.
Sadly, there's also a darker side to this holiday. All the children dreadfully awaiting the time of the year when they feel the loneliest and saddest. The time of the year their parents misery once again strike down on them the hardest. When their father fall asleep, drenched in urine, under what were supposed to be a Christmas tree. When their mother, once again asleep over the kitchen table with a broken wine glass and an empty bottle cheap whiskey besides her, with a cigarette hanging from the tip of her fingers. What will this child, barely seven, tell her teacher when asked what he, along with his classmates, got for Christmas? What lie can he come up with this year to avoid embarrassment?
For many children, every holiday is a nightmare. A nightmare they'd rather not having to go through for the eight year in a row. When their teacher, joyful and happy after a long weekend when she's been able to relax, cheerfully asking her pupils how their holiday have been. Handing out pens to let them share their experience with her, or in some cases, make up yet another lie.
Christmas, Easter and Halloween are in many cases no escape from the busy everyday life, only a horrible weekend stuck in repeat.
Christmas is a time originally meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The presents representing the three gifts he got from the three kings. One from each one. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. As I'm sure most of you know, he later died for our sins. Sins that mankind.
Lust (Luxuria)
Gluttony (Gula)
Greed (Avaritia)
Sloth (Acedia)
Wrath (Ira)
Envy (Invidia)
Pride (Superbia)
Lust is actually only later translated in to lust. The original meaning is luxury, deriving from the latin Luxuria. It is the sin where you can't hinder to fulfill your desires, in short, thus why its later changed to lust, and is often associated with only sexual lust. In short, though, it is when oyu live in luxury. Not necessarily that you're rich, it can be any kind of luxury, both emotional and physical, such as sex whenever you want it (thus "Lust). Sensual, carnal and physical enjoyment, or luxury.
The latin word for Gluttony, is Gula (=lesser throat, neck, gullet, maw and appetite. Also alcoholism). The word gluttony, on the other hand, derive from the word gluttire (=uncommon swallow, gulp down). Basically, overeating, or over consumption, of not only food, but anything. Such as buying things you don't really need, like a second car, a second TV, a second computer, more food than you can eat. Or anything you don't really need. And yes, it can be argued that you don't need a television at all.
Greed, aka. Avaritia (=greed, avarice, rapacity, miserliness, stinginess, meanness). Basically, greed. This one is a true translation. Always wanting more, be so money, items, or power. The last two go hand-in-hand. It is also doing things for your own gain, such as bribing. However, in the most common sense, it is the desire for wealth.
Sloth, Acedia (=fatigued, tired, read: weariness of body and/or soul). Mainly, laziness, indifference, and passivity to obeying God, or putting other earthly masters above God. Also Akedia, from Greek, and means "absence of care" to God, or others suffering. Also not realizing ones full potential, or working to do ones best.
Wrath, Ira(=anger, ire, wrath, resentment, indignation, rage/fury/violence, bad blood.). This is the sin of a strong sense of justice. However, not the normal justice, but the sense of justice arriving from ones own anger, hatred and jealousy. Such as murdering someone for having sex with your wife, or beating someone up for having it better than yourself. In other words, revenge.
Envy, Invidia (=hate/hatred/dislike, envy/jealousy/spite/ill will, use of words/acts to arouse) Envy is the sin where you desire something someone else has that you don't. It can be power, love, children, or more material things such as money or a car. Often related to, and cause for, wrath. Robbery, violence etc. Also the sin where you wish bad things to happen to others.
Last we have Pride, Superbia (arrogance, pride, haughtiness). This is not the sin where you are proud of hat you've accomplished, what you know etc. It is more a sin where you do not acknowledge other's successes, do not compliment others that may need them, and ignoring those less fortunate, thinking they deserve it. Loving oneself so much that you have no respect for others is a prime example.
Now you might ask yourself, why is he listing the seven deadly sins? And at Christmas time? I'm doing it for the reasons stated above. We celebrate Christmas due to the birth of Jesus. No, I'm not a Christian, but I feel we've lost what Christmas is about. Generosity, spreading joy and happiness, helping others less fortunate. What we do, however, is a perversion of true Christmas spirits. In ancient times, we made the gifts we gave away. It wasn't something truly amazing, like a new television or a Playstation 3. It could be things like Myrrh or Frankincense, or a felted bracelet. You didn't only give it to your family, you gave it to your neighbors, and other people less fortunate. While we consume things more then ever (I bet Christmas once again broke a new sales record this year), and give each other things we don't really need, we completely ignore those less fortunate. Did you do something truly meaningful this year, something that could completely light up another person's life?
While we live in luxury, over-consumption (especially during Christmas), excess (and encourage each other's excess by giving each other gifts), and in most cases, a complete lack of acknowledging other's misery, others aren't as fortunate. For example, Sweden have a foundation called "BRIS" (children's right in society), where children in need can call. However, they are closed on holidays. Where exactly are children supposed to call those days? While the people working there are home having fun with their family and enjoying themselves, children in need have to wait.
I believe this is the case in most countries. And I feel we should all follow Thailand's example. To celebrate their king's 80'th birthday, they couldn't think of anything to give to their king. So instead, they decided to give a gift that really matters. To not only the king and themselves, but to everyone. Thus, as the gift, they decided to give away 10 billion good deeds (don't remember the exact number, but it was quite a bit). That is truly an amazing gift to give to someone. The person that thought of that should really be awarded a prize.
So, what if, besides the usual Christmas celebration, you do one good deed for every day of December. Can be helping someone out, giving money to charity etc. That, if anything, is what Christmas is about. Not sinning. So help out. Help adding your straw to the ant nest. Make the world a better place, not only for yourself, but your children and everyone else.
