Spirit wrapped up too early

The most wonderful time of the year … for some.

With the holidays past, it is time to take stock of another year and reflect on the significance of the reason for gathering with family and decking halls with boughs of holly. Yet, I always found it vexing that the Christmas spirit, that of charity and good will, vanishes once the decorations are back in the attic. Once everyone is back to work, or school, everything resumes, including the usual incivility and self-centeredness. Why is this?

As a Christian, I always thought that the season of charity and brotherly love should last all year, and I should be kind to everyone. Yet donations of essential items at homeless shelters are down 60 percent this year, and, after Christmas, the volunteers are gone. It seems to me that we should help others whenever we have the chance, and there are many opportunities that go unfulfilled all year round. It’s still cold outside. People are still hungry and need to be loved.

R. Skyler Oberst

Cheney