And here again is the broad perspective we look at and review at this special time of year: From a very great distance, our homeworld is a very small, bluish planet in the vastness of infinite, black space; a tiny, spinning object in the universe with nothing particularly noteworthy to be seen from out there.

But we do know that it has a vibrant and thriving diversity of life and that it is different from any other world in the infinite universe – at least as far as we know today. Its origin is still a complete mystery. And the origin of all its interdependent integrated life forms and species is equally mysterious, apart from the ancient recorded stories, the “myths” and religious cosmologies that are tens of thousands of years old, as well as other ancient accounts and traditions.

We know about the rise and fall of ancient millenarian civilizations and cities, about their cultures, beliefs and religions, and about the way in which many of them were ultimately destroyed by war, conquest, religious conflict and disease.

We are very aware that our current times are similar. Hundreds of millions of people are currently in the middle of Christmas celebrations. For over 2,000 years, these celebrations have marked the birth of the world’s divine light, Emmanuel, who is considered the King of Peace, while many nations continue to wage war and slaughter against one another, despite claiming to be the King of Peace as children of the same God. It is also true that some claim that they are favored by another god or that one god prefers them to all others.

In this sacred time of celebration of the Light, it is ironic that the people surrounding our one, unique shared world home see this as a spiritually powerful time, while at the same time many are complicit in the destruction and even genocidal slaughter of the “Others.”

For thousands of years, many have believed that in everything that exists there has remained a mystery, an order and even a sacredness, that there is a supernatural being called the Most High – the Creator and Author of all order. Many believe in the “divine” birth of the Christ-Messiah, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day as a light of peace in the world and who can alleviate natural, supernatural and spiritual suffering.

The Christmas birth of this Christ-Messiah to humanity had a transformative effect on humanity as “Emmanuel”, the Most High, worked with humanity. Many, including the faithful of El Norte, believe that the Christmas Nativity is also the birth of la divina luz, the divine light, and the love of the Most High for humanity; and that Christmas is also the birth of the hope for “peace on earth, goodwill for all.”

The Christmas event – its continuation and its effects – continues in the world, as many complacent “masters of the world” rise for a short time and then fall ignominiously, even in our own time. Some are unimaginably rich or believe they hold all earthly power through geopolitical machinations and deceit. But their reign is short.

One of the world’s greatest and wise men, Mahatma Gandhi of India, led his country out of colonial bondage to an imperial superpower in the 20th century. He remains highly regarded for his wisdom and vision of the human condition.

His sayings are apropos, such as: “There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end they always fall.” Gandhi also said: “There is a higher court than the courts, and that is the judgment of conscience. It replaces all other dishes.” The world needs these generous men and women in our time.

Meanwhile, the Blessing Way repeats the refrains: “Feliz Navidad y Prospero Anio Nuevo a todos, y que haiga la paz y la curacion del Altisimo en el Cielo y en la Tierra por siempre, por la claridad amantisima de la civina luz que. “ “Ya va naciendo en our mundo!”

Editor’s note: The Taos News is a secular publication and welcomes views from people of all faiths.