It's widely known that Christ was not born on December 25. You can even check it on Snopes, which would probably give Christ himself a big 'HA! HA!' laugh. I think much in this world would give Christ a laugh. Who else gets a pine tree dragged inside to celebrate their birthday or has a jolly man deliver toys in remembrance of him?

Of course, much in this world would make Christ weep, not the least of which include atrocities committed in the name of Christianity. This is why my wife and I do not consider ourselves to be Christians. We are Christ-conscious.

Christianity, as we know it in our modern Western world, has a doctrine. Love cannot be ruled by doctrine. Love is ruled by love. A Christ-conscious person, when faced with a difficult situation, is going to ask themselves what love would do.

When we are Christ-conscious, we each take responsibility for our actions. I think this is what Christ wanted us to do. Don't throw that stone unless you are completely perfect in your own actions, which none of us are. I think if Christ were walking among us today, he would shout, "Put down the damn book and look at each other!" We can only really know what God needs of us if we are looking at our world.

Christ stood up for a prostitute whom a crowd would have stoned. What a godforsaken idea that we have the right to kill what we don't want to look at. That woman was healed by Christ's presence there. Is that a miracle? I think the miracle is how Christ's presence changed the crowd.

I don't think Christ would care which day we celebrate our Christ-consciousness, except perhaps to say that it should be every day. The great gift of Christ's adversities is that he left that possibility here with us. Obviously, when he walked with us, we were not prepared to receive the message he came in to give us, but he left it here for us to grow into. He was nothing we can't be. He had nothing we can't have. Our acts of kindness, love, and generosity towards one another raise us all.

I'm sure Christ wouldn't mind sharing a Christmas dinner with every one of us. I'm sure he'd bring wine with him to every celebration. He was a good house guest that way. If he could stand and make a toast at the end of the meal, he would say, "Thank you for remembering me. Thank you for spreading love and light in the world. I did what I came to do. I changed the crowd."

Happy holidays (whichever holidays you celebrate), and love and blessings from us at Brighthill!