Pollyanna Christmas

I'm up to my ears in day-job work and preparing for 16 people to be at Christmas dinner at our house, and I doubt I'll get to post anything at length. Yet, Christmas is a time of light and celebration in the midst of the darkest season of the year; indeed, I think I can say all cultures in this world have some kind of mid-winter celebration that is focused on light and bounty. It's such a human thing to do: lighting a candle in the dark, shouting "life!" in the midst of a season that historically has been so starved of life (literally--winter has always been a season when food was short and life, shorter). I believe there is something both human and divine in the urge to give light in the midst of darkness, to search for life when death hovers at the door.

So, since actions speak louder than words, below are some links to news and such that are not only in the spirit of Christmas, but also in the spirit of Pollyanna.

Mystery couple sparks cascade of giving at diner:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34420892/ns/us_news-giving/

Secret Santas:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34420690/ns/us_news-giving/

Crime decreases; murder falls by 10%; lowest since the 1960s:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34510483/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Stephen King donates money to bring Maine soldiers home for Christmas, bless his heart:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34403601/ns/us_news-giving/

If there has to be a fight around Christmas, a snowball fight in Times Square is not a bad way to go about it:
http://blog.ricecracker.net/2009/12/20/snowball-fight-times-square/

Which was apparently started by some kids from Florida:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=211278819460&ref=mf

Anyone else got Pollyanna-ish Christmas news and incidents? Let me know.

Much love and light to all!
--Karen