A Christmas Story

I believe in miracles all year round because I believe in being human. Miracles happen when we act like humans. We are miraculous and we have the power to make so many small things that combine into something big and very strong.

If you put aside all the agitation and stress of running around, buying gifts, decorating your house, cooking, cleaning, crowdedness, unwanted meetings and all these things that came to represent Christmas, you will see that Christmas is about being human and, therefore, miraculous. And you can’t deny that Christmas is about being human! I’ll give you only one reason, from a religious point of view, God became human so we should do that too. I love all the good things people do around this time (it’s sad that they don’t do it more often) and that is what creates this magic atmosphere. And that’s how miracles happen.

Because Christmas is the most miraculous time of the year, my favourite Christmas story and my favourite miracle are the same. So let me tell you my favourite Chrismas miracle.

It was Chrismas Eve, 1914. And even though there was no formal truce, the German soldiers started lighting candles and singing Christmas carols. And then… in the distance, the British soldiers joined in. All the sudden, these sworn enemies who were only seconds before fighting one another were meeting in no man’s land, between the tranches - exchanging gifts, candy, souvenirs, and lots of improvised ornaments.

(The narrative is taken from a Chrismas special of my all-time favourite TV series - Warehouse 13)

I will leave this song telling the story of the Chrismas Truce in more details here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5on4WK1MpA

You see, what the soldiers did was purely human. It was kindness, not magic. And although our „species” is responsible for pollution, the extinction of animals, or crimes, we are still capable of doing good just for goodness sake. And I see that every day in full-time volunteers and youth workers, people who make miracles happen in each of us. That’s why I believe that youth work works.

Now go and be human! Not only today, or tomorrow or until New Year’s, I wish you to be human every day! May your Christmas be as you want it to be!