Christmas is the Christian celebration of God's incarnation. Though other faiths vary greatly in the details, Christianity is not the only world religion to believe that God became flesh. For example, many Hindu people believe that God became incarnate in Vishnu, and other faiths believe that God became incarnate in historical figures.
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While I cannot think of a more beautiful thing, metaphysically speaking, than humanity and divinity being knit together in one being, one does not have to appreciate the theology to see just how helpful the concept of incarnation (literally "infleshing") this is.
Buffalonians in particular understand the importance of incarnation. I had a family member from out of town offer a "helpful suggestion" to the neighborhood that he wanted to share on my blog. Even though the idea had merit (it was about improving walk-ability), we cautioned him to share sensitively. We are less interested in a message when it is offered from an outsider. We value people who live their message.
What's your concern? Preservation? Get involved with a building that needs care. Poverty? Live with, and like, poor people. Crime? You better not be lecturing from a gated neighborhood!
If you believe God brings light to dark situations, or that God enters into and lives among humanity (these are at the root of the Christian understanding of incarnation), then the best place to start your work is right in the middle of everything! Christmas isn't about God practicing far-away charity, but on-the-ground solidarity.
This Christmas, as billions of people celebrate the Divine entering into oneness with humanity, you are invited to practice incarnation yourself. It requires humility, but humility may just be divine.
There are chances to observe Christmas all over Buffalo this evening and tomorrow. We are designing the service at Lafayette Church to be accessible for people of every background. 8PM, Lafayette and Elmwood; you are invited to share the time and place of your community's gathering in the comments.
nice painting, who's the artist?
fixing a needy building is a superb way to get involved with preservation, but it is not the only way. challenging the incentives to demolish, the mindset of disposability, and the structures (codes, regulations, corruption, etc.) that consign viable buildings to the landfill is another.
we buffalonians admire folks who do the former (rocco termini) and detest those who do the latter (tim tielman), which is self-defeating. rather like canonizing those who nurse the plague victims and punishing those who remove the handle from the water pump.