Whether Christmas is for you today a celebration of the birth of Jesus or a secular holiday of good will and gift-giving, the holiday offers a day to reflect on the true gifts in our lives and the opportunities they offer us.

The leadup to Christmas is filled with much expectation — the parties and lights, shopping and feasting, the search for the perfect gift, the menu-planning and glittering holiday centerpieces. By tomorrow, much of it will be a memory.

Oh, the trees will be up for a few more days and toys may hold our youngsters' attention for a few weeks. But all too soon, the holiday glow fades and we return to daily routines.

We can, however, hope that the heartfelt messages we share with each other of peace, joy, love and the spirit of giving to those in need do not also become just a memory. If only the wonder of Christmas could remain kindled in some small way.

The elemental story of Christmas, the Nativity, transcends a sentimental tale. "I come to proclaim good news to you — tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people," the angel tells the shepherds in the Nativity story in the Gospel of Luke. To Christians, it is the story of God being a part of human history in the person of Jesus, born to Mary in a stable in Bethlehem. That birth brought a message of love, healing and hope.

For all of us, Christian or not, that Christmas message of joy and love for all people, excluding no one, has a powerful resonance that should not just remain a seasonal greeting.

On this fragile Earth, in our global community and in our Island community, there is much that divides and separates us even as much of the world pauses to reflect on that timeless message of the Nativity story.

We face very real, serious problems far away and here at home — the war in Iraq, terrorism, homelessness, global warming, economic pressures, and debates over development and growth. In this season of joy, many bear the hurt of loss, loneliness and illness.

The celebration of Christmas will be real if we reach out today and throughout the year to heal fractures, build community and give hope to those in need.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.