Merry Christmas: The True Meaning of Christmas....

Big Spring Park
Huntsville, Al

          Christmas is one the most festive, materialistic and holy holidays of the year. Throughout the years, I’ve come to understand that the meaning of Christmas transcends verbal, written and audible definitions. I would postulate that Christmas is an entity that has become part of our social DNA. This day has transformed into much more than just a collection of religious events. This is evident by the fact that it is celebrated by many non-Christian groups. December 25, has become known synonymously as the day when people are more generous and family oriented. I am not suggesting that this holiday does not offer a social benefit to mankind, because it does. This holiday offers unity to and for its participants. It is spiritual fuel for the religious while offering monetary rewards to a capitalistic society.

            There are many people who have propagated the myth that the holidays are a catalyst for an increase in suicides. It should be noted that many “studies in different Western countries have found the drop [in suicides to be]… more pronounced during the Christmas to New Year’s stretch” (Ballas, 2009). So while it is true, there will be individuals who will experience new empty roles in their family units during the holiday season, a large number of these people have learned to adapt. The resilience of the American family continues to be the staple for this ever-expanding culture. The holiday season, especially Christmas and Thanksgiving, has become the symbol of social assimilation and individuals who refuse to worship these “holy days,” can easily find themselves socially banished.

Christmas Tree Trail
Huntsville, Al.

            There is nothing in Western culture that has a solid “black and white” meaning; instead everything can be defined and faded shades of “grays”. The holiday season has no exemption, for they are much more than a dichotomy of sad and happy times. This is the time when Christians and non-Christians go out of their way to do good deeds. It is in these times that people are more likely to volunteer to help the homeless, to lend money into accept forgiveness from others. Some people have speculated that people are happier because they “spend more time interacting with other friends and family on these holidays” (Killingsworth, 2012). I think that there’s merit in that argument however I would postulate that the Christmas holiday season has been embedded in our DNA through years of repetitious rituals.

This is evident in the fact that many individuals, no matter how old, can always remember at least three passed Christmases. Even though, they may not be able to remember what the tooth fairy replaced their first tooth with or the first day of school. This is because the Christmas holidays have been branded in their minds as well as a subliminal message of capitalism. The term “Black Friday” has little meaning in communist societies however there are few Westerners who are not aware of this grand shopping day. I would further suggest that if there were no merchandise to sell the Christmas season will lose a lot of its attraction.

Christmas is the time of the year when Christians, who mostly believe that lying is wrong, decide that for this one day lying to their children is okay. It is a lie that even national and local media are more than willing to participate in. It is a time when members of anti-pedophile communities are willing to let their children sit on the laps of disguised older man, without asking for a background check. Yes, Christmas and the holiday season is a time of year when burglars and con artists prey own the goodwill of all mankind. The time of year when reason is thrown out the window, where credit cards are maxed out in the hope that under the tree eternal happiness will on Christmas day, be discovered.

 

Ballas, C. (2009, January 07). Suicide Rates and the Holidays. Retrieved from Health Central: http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/54818/suicide-holidays

Killingsworth, M. (2012, December 23rd). We Aren't Happier on the Holidays. Retrieved from The New Your Times; The Opinion Pages: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/23/why-arent-people-happier-during-the-holidays/we-are-happier-on-the-holidays

 

                       

           

Falling in Love with Apples. My Week of Reconciliation

            It was seven years ago when I had an inescapable idea of climbing this enormous apple tree. It was a tree that, I had noticed on my journey for months. It was a tree, whose leaves would wave at me while I traveled on my familiar routes. During my passing, this tree's engaging fruity smell would take flight in the wind and capture my attention with the sweetest aroma my nose had ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I was seduced by the soft howling of the wind that whispered “Come here young fellow, come here!” My mind escaped my body which pleaded for my lips to answer this call. This invitation to climb masturbated my heart while penetrating my soul. I longed to touch its ant infested bark.

            So I got out of my car, jumped the privacy fence and commenced to climb and with each step the bark yelled, YES, YES, YES!! I reached out for the reddest of the red and falling to the ground with this prize in my hands, my teeth raped the skin of this wooden mother's offspring.  It was the sweetest apple I had ever tasted and for once in my life I thought I was in heaven. I fell to the ground and licked the residue from my hands. At last, I had found a nutritious supplement that would keep me emotionally full for the rest of my days.

            My apple induced coma was interrupted by fruit pickers from across the field. “Hey there, hey you, stop eating my pears! Stop it I say!” Their voices approached as I rose in protest “This is an apple, how dare you insult the beauty of this fruit by lowering it properties to that of a dirty pear. How dare you sir?” I grabbed a hand full of apples and ran quickly to my car and drove away in hast. How could anyone confuse this apple for a pear? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. There should be a crime against folks who don’t know the value and beauty of an apple. I will take these babies home, put them in jars and save them until one day the world will appreciate its beauty. It will be on this day of reconciliation that I will then present them to everyone’s envy.

            Earlier this week, I went to my cabinet and opened a fresh jar of pears and threw them into the trash…..

Moral: Sometimes the battle would be won a lot sooner if we would admit what others have already known... Happy divorce

My Happy Birthday Blog.. Made it another day

What is the meaning behind the term Happy Birthday? For many people it is a day of celebration, a day to reminisce over past days and to be hopeful that if you live long enough you will be blessed with the opportunity to experience more. It is a celebratory day where we (the recipients) will rejoice in the decision that our parents made years ago. I believe wishing someone a happy birthday is one of the greatest human gestures that an individual can bestow upon another. It is a phrase that says “I acknowledge that you are here and I celebrate your years of existence, even though it was not your choice to enter the world, you have made a conscious or unconscious choice everyday to continue living, and for that my existence has been greatly influenced by your presence.” This form of social acknowledgement is one of the highest praises we can give. It is the closest thing we can do in our imperfect bodies that mirrors Godliness.

Today is my birthday, and I have to say that I am truly pleased with the well wishes that I have received. On days like these I am taken back to the greatest birthday present I ever received in my adulthood from a friend. Let me share.

It happened about fifteen years ago when a friend of mine called me at work and told me that she had forgotten something over my house the night before. I told her that she was welcome to come by and pick it up when I got off from work. She refused my offer and said that she would just come by my job and get the keys because she needed this item right away. She did and when she arrived at my job, she told me that she would just wait for me at my place until I got off. I told her that would be fine even though I was a little curious because this new behavior of hers was out of the ordinary. Well when I got home from work she had cleaned my place, cooked dinner, baked a cake and invited all of my friends over. I was overcome with emotion when I heard “Happy Birthday!!!” from my friends as I walked through the door.  

This birthday gift set the standard for every birthday I would have in the future. I believe that there is only handful of people in the world that you will ever meet; that will take a vested interest in your life. Although your interaction with them may be brief the connection will last forever. Today is my birthday and today I would like to share it with everyone that thought enough to appreciate my existence. I would like to extend my heart in gratitude with a simple “ty”.  

My Early Birthday Gift

                Yesterday something unexpected, beautiful and ground shaking happened to me. I was lying on the couch going over some paperwork, when my mother called. I have not spoken to her in over 2 weeks (I know shame on me) and this was one of those check-up calls that we give each other from time to time. After a few minutes of exchanging niceties my mother asked “Do you know what I have been doing this morning?” “No” I responded wandering where was this leading question going. “I have been up this morning reading your book; you know the book you wrote several years ago?” “Yes, I am familiar with it”. (Several years ago I self published a book that chronicled my journey from sin to redemption. I sold about 75 copies) She went on to ask me if it was okay for her to read a loud one of the spiritual passages that I wrote. I told her that would be fine.

My mother began to read my poem as if the words belonged to her and not her only surviving son. After she had read the last line, she stopped and asked me “That was beautiful and sad, David. You know this book never got the credit it deserved, but one day you will receive your credits in heaven”. I was left speechless, knowing that that the words I wrote many years ago on loose pieces of toilet paper in a bathroom stall was resurrected.

Troy comes into work to look for a file and Brenda has surprise

Check it out!!

Christmas Crack: Just Say NO

Empty Roles would like to wish all of our readers and supporters a Happy Holiday and a very blessed and prosperous New Year.

Now with that said, I feel that it is the duty of Empty Roles to shine a light on the social behaviors that continue to occur.  I subscribe to the belief that if we do not recognize our disruptive behaviors, we will not possess the drive to change them. This is why Empty Roles, has elected to project these societal errors to our readers.

We are living in a world that is built on addictions, some of which are acceptable while others are not. Those that we deem as being acceptable we take extra efforts to defend and condemn those that disagree with our positions. I have to ask, is a person that spends their payroll check on crack cocaine and neglects to pay their bills any better than a person that goes into debt standing in line at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Both individuals are participating in disruptive behavior. However society looks at one as acceptable while condemning the other. I would postulate that both scenarios create a breeding ground for empty roles. These behaviors have the possibility of removing vital resources from the family unit.

I feel that we as a society should just stand up and “ say NO” to the evils of Christmas crack. Instead of teaching our children to stand in line hankering for material goods we really don’t need, let’s stay  home and teach them how to take care of the things they already have in their possession.

Jerry’s Kids: The Role of a Pedophile

You can't turn on the news this week without being bombarded with the horrific sex scandal that has plagued the Penn State campus. It has been described as the most shocking event to ever surround college sports. It is an event that has caste a dark cloud on the campus as well as the coaching staff.  I believe that this incident has a direct relationship with empty roles. As, our society continues to progress we will witness more symptoms of this condition.

 Let me begin by stating that I think that it is truly a tragedy what has happened to those boys at the hand of Jerry Sandusky, and I feel that if he did what reports have alleged, he should be ashamed of his actions. The role of the pedophile that he filled is a deviate societal creation; and my heart goes out to the boys who have become victims and had their lives transformed because of the deeds of this man. I feel that every person is responsible for his/her own actions however there are catalysts in our environment that allow such deviance as these to occur and prosper.

An empty role is one of the most devastating things can happen to a community.  It can occur even if both parents are present in the child’s life.  It is the entity that has been instrumental in destroying the fabric of our society.  I would hope that when men and women make the conscious decision to separate themselves from their children, they realize that this may be one of the products of their choice. It also is very important for women, who have allowed the legal system to develop a hole in their families, to understand that this is a threat.

In the case of the young boys that were allegedly raped by Mr. Sandusky, I would propose that the role of hero, father or parent was absent in the majority of these boy’s lives. I have met many women who have invited such activities in their homes by looking for “a man that would treat their children as his own.” We have to be very careful with what we wish for, because it might come true. The Penn State incident would not have occurred if there wasn’t an empty role available. Jerry was allowed to fill this role. It is impossible to enter a room through a closed door and I think the outrage should also be extended to the parents that allowed their children to be exposed to this coach as much as the pedophile who walked through their proverbial doors.