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Today, Christmas day, we exchange and give gifts to each other. People have spent long hours making and selecting those gifts and we each know the importance of not only giving a gift, but receiving one as well. The process, as part of the celebration of Christmas, has been with us for a very long time and will continue to be a feature of this culture for the foreseeable future and it has far more to do with examples then it does with some story about three kings and their odd little presents. The example of showing what we think and feel by what we do is what Christmas is all about. We need not know or even have heard the stories of Christmas, for we can see in those about us and their actions the living spirit and embodiment of what the man's life was all about. The wonder of each year as differences are set aside and we all try to think and act on the things we know to be good and

important, our attention and concern for others is increased and we shake ourselves a bit each year at Christmas to recommit ourselves to being better people, more generous, more loving, more caring and we all, yes all, drop our self centered "me" and "I" attitude as we recognise that we are not alone, but part of a family, part of a community and part of the human race. The glorious thing about Christmas is that it is universal, our actions and the actions of our other fellow inhabitants of this planet affect us profoundly. Christmas transcends religion and culture and custom as we are all swept into the spirit of kindness and warmth. Though I am certain that people who so strongly profess their religion will contest my sincere conviction that Christmas is for everyone and effects everyone on so many levels, because it is not a matter of faith, but instead it is a matter of practice, it is what we do that is so important. Celebrating, enjoying ourselves and the company