December 1, 2006

Saint Nicholas, Alabama, and the Poor

Along with all the gift-giving, party-going, and traffic-dodging of Christmas are the stories and nostalgia that surround the season. One legend is central to the worldwide celebration – the story of St. Nicholas and his concern for the poor.

The best-known story about the 3rd century priest is about his secret help given to the three daughters of their poor father who could not afford a dowry. Nicholas’ secret generosity contributes to our own traditions of gift giving.

You know about Nicholas and his concern for the poor, but did you know that Alabama holds a primary place in the history of Christmas? According to a number of sources (here’s one), Alabama was the first U.S. state to declare Christmas an official holiday. We did that way back in 1836!

So in the midst of this festival of overmuch everything I invite you to let this vision dance in your head, a dream of what could be one of these old mornings: Alabama becomes the first state in the union, as a result of compassion and insistence, to assure that  all of its citizens have enough.

‘Seems appropriate to the season.

Two More Reasons to Be Optimistic

It looks like poverty is becoming more important. That is, it seems that evangelical Christians are taking more notice of the issue, becoming more concerned, and voting accordingly.

According to a recent poll, evangelicals cite the Iraq war and poverty as more significant than abortion and gay marriage when they fill out a ballot. I especially find encouraging that the poll reveals “62 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 said the most important crises in America are economic justice, poverty and greed or materialism.”

Woohoo! The APP is right on target, it seems, in reaching out to college students. I see the tide changing, and not only because of this poll. Evangelical leaders will do well to take note of the concerns of their younger followers.

Some leaders are; it cost one his job even before he began.

When Joel Hunter was recently named as the new head of the Christian Coalition he declared, "I look forward to…expanding our mission to concern itself with the care of creation, helping society's marginalized, human rights/religious issues and compassion issues." Part of his determination? The concerns of younger evangelicals.

Woohoo! Though the CC board of directors immediately dismissed Hunter (seems he was out of step with a significant slice of his constituency), his statement is cause for celebration. It reveals a renewed sensitivity to the cause of “the least of these.”

The Bible tells us that when all creation is finally redeemed “a little child shall lead them.” I celebrate youth and their daring vision of what can be!

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