Wanted: Christmas Conscience

Conscience. Christmas. In some ways, these words are synonymous. These are common terms with unusual denotations. Splendid things can be signified and defined by these two. In one way or another, both unmistakably intertwine. Their intersection is fairly obvious yet fuzzy for some. Except for the fact that the two begin with a bold letter C, they hold some deep parallelism. But what's with conscience in Christmas and Christmas in conscience, anyway? What's with conscience? What's with Christmas?

When I was younger, I used to watch cartoons and those animated movies of Disney. I really found them entertaining that I wanted to watch them over and over again, causing me to memorize almost all the dialogues and songs in those movies. In fact, it was in one of my favorite Disney films, Pinocchio, that I found the meaning of conscience. It was Pinocchio's conscience, Jiminy Cricket, who said that conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to. It is a quaint definition, isn't it? Furthermore, there's another line from Jiminy Cricket still that's seemingly true: "...the world is full of temptations. TEMPTATIONS-they are the wrong things that seem right at the time. But even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, sometimes the wrong things may be right at the wrong time or vice versa." His statement really sounded so mystifying but whatever Jiminy was trying to imply, it would only mean that there are lots of temptations. They are ever versatile. At first, they could look good or bad that we cannot instantly recognize that it's a dire allurement. To conquer this, one should let his conscience be his guide, as what Pinocchio's Blue fairy advocated.

On the other hand, Christmas is the season of all seasons. I believe that anyone can't help but recognize what Christmas is. It is the season of joy which is usually associated those sparkling Christmas lights, ever-gigantic Christmas trees, colorful lanterns, children's carols, "watusis" and all the Jingle Bells & Silver Bells. It is the time of total merry-making and fun. Generally, Filipinos know that the real meaning of Christmas rests behind those "hamons" served and beneath those "pinaskuhans" received during Christmas. As a song goes, "Oh, the real meaning of Christmas is the giving of love everyday.Oh, the real meaning of Christmas is to live as the Master may say. Oh, the real meaning of Christmas is the giving of love everyday", it is love which this season truly brings.

Yes, Christmas is love and conscience is that small voice that people tend to ignore. But, would people still ignore that small voice even if it's the echo of love? Via temptations, yes, people could ignore that love. "Temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It describes acts with negative connotations that tend to lead a person to regret such actions for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling of guilt), health, economics, etc. Temptation also describes the coaxing or inducing a person into committing such an act, by manipulation or otherwise of curiosity, desire or fear of loss," according to the on-line dictionary wikipedia.

Earlier this month we shuddered at those alarming headlines in print and as reported in the broadcast media. Our country, specifically, those in Luzon , was wrecked by the devastating typhoons Reming and Seniang. Numerous lives and livelihoods lost. Seeing their devastated places, those who survived feel lost and doomed. Recently, the country was again shaken by another typhoon which was roughly worse than the natural typhoons- the so-called, political typhoon. The Philippines was pre-occupied with a lot of political issues which caused the cancellation and/or postponement of some planned international events. Rallies here, rallies there. Confusion everywhere. And then again, many of those which were ironed out became furrowed. The white turned out to be black; the smooth ended up being rough.

Christmas isn't just coming. It is already here! Thus, love should have been here, too! It's nice to see on television and hear over the radio that several public and private corporations and institutions were extending their assistance to those people afflicted by the calamities. Food, clothing, water, etc. were sent out. Affluent and prominent individuals and capitalists were the ones who backed these benevolent activities. Hence, we just hope that it was their conscience that guided them and not the temptations. In the political arena, temptations have been really evident. Temptations which entail selfishness, greed and egotism were the chief reasons why these men in the government are confused and in turmoil. These people exchanged blows in the name of the law. But they should always remember that, even if it wasn't written in the Constitution, there's this law to which all other laws were molded-the law from within, one's Conscience.

But what's with conscience in Christmas and Christmas in conscience, anyway? What's with the conscience? What's with the Christmas? Back then, these used to be our queries. Now, we've come to realize that it's at Christmas time that we should best exercise our conscience. But it doesn't mean that we should leave conscience behind during ordinary days of the year because in the end, this still small voice from within will budge insistent and will certainly lead us to a total fulfillment.

In this season, let your Christmas Conscience be your guide! Merry Christmas!