I know of many people, myself one of them once, who feel the Lord isn’t real because they haven’t heard his voice. A Russian cosmonaut went to space and proclaimed that he didn’t see God. It is a sticking point more of perspective than of reality. To those who say, “If He’d just show up so I could see Him and touch Him,” He did, and it didn’t help people whose priorities contrasted with what they saw and experienced — a common problem. We see it every day where contrasting beliefs determine what people see and how they interpret their experiences.

We are surrounded by voices, even in the very air we breathe. Influences are alive all around us. The voice of selfishness is often louder during the Christmas season with all the “I wants” and “spend, spend, spend.” Expectations for family events and unity are experienced by some as depressing and unattainable and justification for others to try one more time and for others to celebrate ongoing traditions. It is a time of year that some people give and serve that will not do so at any other time of year. The extreme contrasts point to what we see, believe, and do is dependent more on where we are as individuals and our personal priorities. All the voices are out there, but people hear in accordance with their personal focus.

I spent a lot of years personally disenchanted with Christmas to a point I wouldn’t talk about it to anyone because of my negativity. I was shown, unequivocally, that I blamed my attitude on Christmas when the real problem was me. I was freed from my attitude cage once I realized I had to power to make Christmas anything I wanted it to be. I am no longer the victim of the season. I can choose.

Christmas is a reminder of good things that have been given to us by God. The most important gift is Jesus who is the embodiment of Godly virtues. Godly virtues are everywhere, often where you least expect them. Love, compassion, truth, justice, honor and the like are in the air around us swirling with the voices that contradict them. The highest values are even spoken through the mouths of those who say they viciously oppose God. Even atheists have a clear image of good and bad. They just don’t agree on the source of these great values. God’s voice is everywhere and heard by everyone, but not everyone chooses to recognize His voice as the source of the words. That’s one of His greatest gifts, the right to choose.