'Tis the Season...

Okay, I'll admit to being a cynic. All this Christmas love and peace and stuff is almost as bad to me as the consumerism and materialism that has become the point of Christmas to so many people. (Hello? Whether or not you believe in him, there was a guy named Jesus in the story at one point.)
But today I came across a video made by Justin Bieber (please know who he is, whether you like him or not) for his new song "Pray." The official video is a montage of various disaster scenes, Justin himself doing good deeds with soldiers and underprivileged persons, and people in horrible conditions who were still somehow able to dance and sing and smile. All of this is accompanied by the song, definitely pop but sung by Justin (post voice-change, thank you) with an unusual depth of sincerity. Even if the whole thong was an elaborate market hoax (which is probable), it touched me a little. We all hear about the world's disasters every day. It can make us feel a little helpless. But...I guess sometimes the smallest bit of hope can make us feel better about our role in the world, and make us feel like we can accomplish something, and help someone. Whether it's assisting our neighbor down the street, or sending a $5 donation to a girl in Afghanistan, or just smiling at someone who's down on their luck, we can do something positive every day, and maybe soon those days will add up into something more promising for our world's future.
Everyone says this. I know. But as much as this kind of thing bothers me, and as much as it gets overused and oversaid, it's really true. And that makes me a little sad--there is so much I could do that I don't, and a little more cheery. Because at least I can do something. And that, in all of its cheesiness, bumps up my holiday spirit a little bit.
Immaculate, signing off. LOVE.