We’re a strange breed, we humans. Just watching the nightly news gives us an interesting snapshot of the human condition.
A weirdo holds a bunch of people hostage in a chocolate and coffee cafe in the heart of our biggest city. His demands: a terrorist flag (obviously didn’t have one of his own) and a chat with the Prime Minister. Yep, definitely the sort of thing worth terrorising and killing people for.

India are putting up a good fight in the cricket but the Aussies are holding their own. Isn’t the new young captain doing well?

The Taliban wage war against dangerous children in Pakistan. The Taliban in Afghanistan distance themselves from this attack. The only reason I can think of is that boys seemed to be the main target. Apparently, in Afghanistan, the educated girls are far more dangerous.

Someone has won the “best Christmas lights decorated house” competition. Good show, that man! (No, it wasn’t us.)

A mother in Queensland had a brain snap and killed eight children. We’re reassured that the rest of the community have nothing to fear. Are you serious? I would have thought we’d all be slightly afraid that whatever went ping in that lady’s head, may well do the same in someone else’s!

Petrol prices have gone down. Hooray.

In the background, there’s a little choir singing quietly, soothingly, calmly, “You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I’m telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town.” Ah yes, holiday cheer with menaces.

The message the choir of angels brought to those smelly, marginalised, probably slightly crooked shepherds was revolutionary in its time: Peace on earth; good will to all. It was a time when people were acting slightly nuts, invading other people’s countries, slaughtering indiscriminately, forcing people into slave labour etc. The king of the local area was crazy with paranoia and was about to launch an attack on all boys aged 2 and under. Anything sound familiar?

Yet, in spite of humanity’s propensity towards acts of extreme wickedness, that message persists. Perhaps it persists, because of it. The human heart (when it’s sane) still yearns for peace and goodwill to triumph. It was demonstrated by the young man who tried to wrest the gun off the hostage-taker, to protect his fellow hostages. It was demonstrated by the teachers in Pakistan who protected their students with their own lives. It’s demonstrated by the home-owner who has his own personal grief to fight but who decorates his house in light for the pleasure of his neighbours. (Love my Old Boy.)

We can only overcome darkness with light, hatred with love, indifference with compassion and misery with kindness. May you all experience moments of joy, love and light in your home and in your community, and I hope you all get a chance to share a bit of that with others. Merry Christmas.