Get rid of negative thoughts, words, actions
Let’s face it: For the most of this year we have been bombarded with negative thoughts, words and actions. If we weren’t already depressed we merely had to turn on the TV, read a newspaper account or listen to someone moan about the economy, the weather or we’ve had to listen to one politician bashing another. We’ve been told that the holidays will be bleak. Bleak? Bleak, as an adjective means:
1. bare, desolate, and often windswept: a bleak plain.
2. cold and piercing; raw: a bleak wind.
3. without hope or encouragement; depressing; dreary: a bleak future.
Bleak. Do they have to be? As a nation we are a group of people that has risen above adversity. Our nation is an immigrant nation. There are few “native Americans” amongst us. If you trace your lineage you will find that your great-great-great-grandparents came from another country. They endured hardships that we have not seen the likes of but here we sit in the 21st century complaining.
Look around you – there are lots of good things happening in our community.
On Nov. 15, Coleridge native and ERHS senior Christian Crifasi held a benefit for Hopsice. The Hopsice 5K Run/Walk started at Brooklyn Park in Ramseur. Seventy two people participated in the race. After all expenses were paid, a total of $1,600 was brought in for the Randolph County and Chatham County Community Home Care & Hospice chapters. Since the turnout was so good, plans are in the works to make it an annual event.
The students at Coleridge Elementary School have done an outstanding job on a food drive which will benefit area residents. The effort was spearheaded by Coleridge native and ERHS senior Gary McKenzie along with the schools SGA. These are just two examples of senior projects helping others in the community. Well done, guys! There is a wealth of activities in our area churches, at school and in the community at large.
Parks Cross Roads Christian Church is presenting a new Christmas outdoor pageant. 4BC December: A Walk to the Beginning of Christmas is an outdoor, live, walking drama that will take you back to the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. The drama will be performed from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 through Dec. 13. Groups of 30 will be taken out every 30 minutes. Reservations are recommended.
First Christian Church in Ramseur will present its Living Christmas Tree, “Jesus is Your Name,” on Dec. 6, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.
The words holiday and bleak cannot truly fit our circumstances. How can we have a joyous event that is without hope? Once again we have to focus on the things in life that really matter. It’s not about the gifts and the things that money can buy, it is about the Gift.
Simply Sandy is written by Sandy Jarrell and appears the first Wednesday of each month. Simply put, it’s Sandy waxing wordy once a month about life as she knows it. Jarrell is a native and life-long resident of Coleridge and a librarian at Ramseur Public Library.
