Endings, beginnings

I came in to work last Tuesday to find a plain white envelope on my desk, with my name written in a familiar uncapitalized script. Inside was a letter from a dear friend, who I will not now name because I did not ask his permission to do so and, because he is a public figure, I don’t want to risk him being accused of "gimmicking." Here is his letter:

Maligayang Pasko, kaibigan.

Sa Paskong ito, itong sulat lang na ito ang maibibigay ko sa iyo. Nagdesisyon kasi ako na ang kaunting naipon ko para pambili ng regalo para sa iyo at sa iba pang mga kaibigan ko ay ibigay na lamang sa ilang kasama natin dito sa...na dumanas ng sakuna at nawalan ng materyal na bagay, lalo pa ng mahal sa buhay. Ang kaunti pang matitira ay ibibigay ko sa ilan pang kaibigan na salat na salat din sa buhay na halos walang pambili ng hindi lamang pagkain, kundi pati na ng gamot para sa mga kaanak at kaibigang maysakit.

Alam kong mauunawaan mo ang desisyong ito.

Maligayang Pasko muli, mahal kong kaibigan.

For those who do not understand Filipino, the message is that the money he had saved to buy presents will be given instead to people in the place where he works who have lost material possessions and even loved ones in the recent calamities, and people who not only do not have money for food but cannot even buy medicine for their sick family members.

It is a gift that reminded me of the essence and spirit of the gift of the Babe in the manger: to feed the hungry, to give water to the thirsty, to give so that others may live. What an uplifting way to end the year and begin a new one!

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May I make another pitch for an environment-friendly celebration of the new year: please do not pollute the air with all those firecrackers. If it’s noise you want, try my officemate Nelson’s ear-blasting ritual: he hooks his computer to his stereo system, turns up the volume to the max, positions his speakers outwards, and plays World War II games like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor. He assures me the decibel levels will beat out the Judas belt any day. And you don’t risk losing digits or setting fires either.

Have a happy–and safe–celebration tonight, and a blessed new year.