Opinion Archive

I recently heard a sermon from my home church, First Baptist Orlando, that 100% inspired this column. I love Christmas for many reasons, but first and foremost because we are celebrating and recognizing the significance of the birth of Jesus. How does the world celebrate Christmas? By giving gifts and acts of kindness to one another to demonstrate our love for others.

I frequently hear that our society has become more and more selfish when it comes to personal matters. It seems to have become every person for himself or herself.

Is it possible that I’m already writing my 2023 Christmas column?
I blinked and the year is gone. And time continues to march on even when I don’t blink. This is my 66thChristmas; the eighth since my mom passed away and 11th since I lost my dad.

Christmas is coming. And along with it, the usual griping about the secularization of this highly meaningful time – yours truly included.

December 2 was the date to kick-off the holiday season with all the trimmings and culminating in the lighted Christmas parade down Main Street.

I’ll admit this Tennessee graduate has a little bias in favor of Florida State. If I had stayed in the state to attend college I would have ended up at FSU.
I pull for the Seminoles 99% of the time. About the only time I don’t cheer on the garnet and gold is when FSU plays Tennessee, or a Seminole loss would help my Vols or Lady Vols.

I felt bitter-sweet emotions as I watched college football over Thanksgiving weekend.

As the Florida State-Florida game ended with a Seminole victory, the announcers calling the game teased the upcoming California at UCLA game and mentioned it would be the last PAC 12 game as we know the conference.

This newspaper is dated Dec. 7, 2023, the 82nd anniversary of the devastating surprise attack by the Japanese against the U.S. Navy’s facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i. Most Americans know today is Pearl Harbor Day, that the attack precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II and that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in condemning Japan’s aggression, called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date that shall live in infamy.”

My closet has been the longtime home of two shirts. Like the best of friends, they literally have had my back through thick and thin offering their familiar and comfortable embrace. Cotton. Soft. A comfy fit. They are my favorite shirts.

One time I was walking through a store looking at the various offerings for Christmas gifts. While looking around I saw a large mug – the size intended for someone to enjoy a meal of soup, or for someone who is a very serious coffee drinker. There was a message printed on the mug which, when I first read it, thought it was a bit trite. But then the full meaning of it dawned on me. There was a depth to its message that I don’t know if its creator intended or not.