The Season of Perpetual Hope

I was walking through downtown Des Moines yesterday and there was man,who appeared to be homeless,  sitting on the sidewalk and frantically rustling through a dirty knapsack. I imagined that the knapsack may contain all of his Earthly possessions and I found myself watching him, wondering what he feared he had lost.

As I watched, I saw his face light up as he found what he was looking for. Out of that dirty knapsack came an equally dirty red santa hat, the white at the bottom of the hat now a dingy yellow with bits of leaves stuck in the fluff. The man placed that dirty hat carefully on his head and stood up, his posture now proud. He said a cheerful "Merry Christmas!" to those he passed as he walked proudly down the street with his knapsack now slung across his back and even those who I imagine may have ignored him at another time of year happily smiled and replied back to him with a jovial "Merry Christmas!"

I could not help from wondering why if this man, a man deeply down on his luck, could wear his Christmas spirit proudly in the form of a dirty, battered Santa hat, there were any reason why the rest of us could not rustle up a bit of hope and joy to spread to those around us.

Merry Christmas, Dear Ones. May hope fill your heart, no matter your circumstances.