Upper and Lower Case Christmas

Reprised from 24 Dec 2011

“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy…”

     –     Christopher Shea, as Linus van Pelt, in the 1965 Classic, “Charlie Brown Christmas”

     –     Some guy named Luke, in a letter to some guy named Theophilus

OK, OK, risky topic, thin ice, blah, blah, blah…

For those who can/will, let us remember the first six letters of the holiday on December 25. Let’s remember the Reason for The Season in between trying to find all the danged stocking booty and under-the-tree-booty.

Where was I? Oh, yes…

Whichever version you picture in your mind, the Ricky Bobby version (“sweet, little, 8 pound, 6 ounce baby…”) or another, He’ll celebrate His 2043rd birthday on Wednesday. Awesome!

But, the topic of the DD today is F/faith, with both an upper and lower case “f.” In the 1965 TV Classic, Linus, for the only time in the entire run of the cartoon series, dropped his security blanket and then delivered his speech on the real meaning of Christmas. For the only time in the history of the cartoon, he didn’t need the blanket, because he “just knew”and that’s what Faith does for us.

I have faith (lower case “f”) in friends, family and — thanks to Faith (upper case “F”) in myself and my work.  I also have faith in the people I work with.  I have faith in the dysfunctional industry we serve.  I have faith in our business. I have faith in y’all, as difference makers. No security blanket needed. For me, the Source of Faith is indisputable.

Without faith, without belief, none of the other skills and talents add up to “a hill of beans” (thank you, Dick Heston!) And without Faith, there ain’t even any beans with which to make a hill…

Be safe. Celebrate with abandon. Call your parents if you can’t be with them, and know that while hard work, great teamwork and faith in one another get us through each day, Faith will get us through anything.

God Bless you all, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

The Daily Diff returns on January 6th, unless a cool idea strikes me while I’m enjoying the Holiday with Mrs. Heston and The Three Who Will Not Be Tamed.