High five for Christmas, ya'll!

So, as my brother and sister-in-law conveyed to us the story of the high-five statue of Christ, the table burst into conversation about religion, the good and the bad of it. Yes, the humor in the story, particularly my brother's chuckle and his wife's admonishment of the same, is certainly amusing. It is amazing that the story of a high-five Jesus statue could indeed create such a stir, particularly tonight, Christmas Eve.

At a table surrounded with the religious and not-so-religious, one would imagine that a combustible environment was close at hand. As I imagined writing this next blog entry, I almost desired it, willed it even, to be full of entanglement, animosity, and comic antagonism. However, as I think about the image of the high-five Jesus, I am stirred by the vision having blessings delivered to the followers. I am in awe of what has been constructed all around us – the people, the trees, the oceans, and yes, the roads, power plants, and all the items we openly berate, but passively, almost subconsciously, hale as minimal requirements for the better life. There is no doubt in my mind that God exists.

But why is there such a loud, often painful running polemic about God? We constantly debate various things about God – his or her existence altogether, the “right” God, and worst of all, the “wrong” God. If I had a dime for every time someone said “your God,” I could buy God. More importantly, everyone tends to argue more about the path to God than the ultimate deeds to honor God and to benefit our fellow human beings and the planet we inhabit. So, on this Christmas Eve 2008, I shall speak more about God and why I think we should give him or her or it a break, high five all around, and pray for peace, humility, and a better human race.

Serving God has long been an issue for me. Does God really sit around counting deeds we complete or don’t complete; deeds that amount to nothing more than idol worship and God brown-nosing? I think it better we honor God by doing good deeds, working hard, taking responsibility for our own actions, and enjoying life but without the most recent excess. I truly believe God is not looking for sacrifices to serve God. Rather, God seeks for us to make sacrifices for our fellow men and women and for the preservation of this vessel we call Earth. All of us, including yours truly, need to make these sacrifices. In these sacrifices, we shall find peace. This is yet another high five for us all.

The path to God has always been an interesting discussion for me. I have obviously been on the wrong path according to many around me. How could a polytheistic religion like Hinduism compare to our beautiful and completely pure monotheistic religion(s) that shows a direct path to God? “Our path is the only path,” they say. I honor these individuals and their corresponding faith in God, regardless of the path. I am, however, in disbelief at the arrogance inherent in their rhetoric, particularly given that their respective religion(s) preach humility as a virtue. Take God’s blessings, the ubiquitous high five, to heart and leave the proselytizing aside.

Finally, on this Christmas Eve, pray for a better human race: a race that seeks greater knowledge and wisdom, a race that desires to be fair to those that live and breathe, and a race that takes only what it needs from its members and invests in a better environment for us all. This is not a political conversation, folks. This is not about right or left, red or blue, Congress or Labor, socialist or capitalist. This is God’s conversation. This is God’s desire. God gave us dominion over the garden. Let us honor God by cultivating it to the highest use and greatest yield.

As always, be thankful for what you have, take only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the subzero, riverside hamlet that is Iowa City, IA, I bid you all a good night and a very Merry Christmas.