The cold clammy plastic oxygen tent covering my frail undersized body distorted my view of the quiet, antiseptic hospital room. The soft plastic see-through walls of the tent made the outside world appear like a funhouse to my scared little eyes. Close by, my mother, father, and a clergyman conferred in subdued tones. I'd just experienced a surgery on my throat. Things had not gone very well. What remained was a game of watching and waiting. Only it was not a game...and it was certainly no funhouse.

I endured quite a few surgeries as a child, attempting to correct various throat and ear conditions. During that time, I learned much about prayer, and about the leap of faith.

Our different religions have various ways of dealing with the trials of life. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to learn about many of our faith traditions. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so, there are many common threads in our great faiths. That more commonality has not been emphasized has probably been due to the historic position taken by many religions that they alone have the only true pathway. Because of this, confusion, frustration, and, at times, conflict and bloodshed have been the sad results of many of the religious interactions in history. As a result, the topics of politics and religion are normally avoided by many who simply seek to live and let live with one another. In many ways, that's a shame. Both of these topics have been crucial in the shaping of the world as we know it today. There is, indeed, much to discuss among us.

That this discussion is becoming even more crucial is due in no small part to the proliferation of nuclear arms in the world. At some point, religious or political animosity might well escalate to the point that humankind's very existance is threatened. Although the most visible issues seem to be between Eastern and Western worldviews, the fact remains that even in our own country many people seem to be more aggressive in espousing their particular religious or political perspectives. America, from its inception, has been a pluralistic society. Although there were official churches in several of the states at the time of America's revolution against England, our national policy with religion was stated in the establishment clause of our Constitution's First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

From this document was drawn the concept of "separation of church and state," although in the last fifty years or so, vigorous debate has ensued as to exactly how separated church and government should be--particularly in the field of education and the celebration of holidays.

Should government be concerned with religious holidays? By that word's historic definition, "holiday" derives from the old meaning: "Holy Day." Interestingly, after the violent French Revolution, an effort was made to wipe out all religious holidays, and even to replace the calendar and change the measurement of time itself! The decimal system, based on multiples of 10, was incorporated with French clocks (each minute having 100 seconds, with 100 minute hours, and 10 hour days), the calendar (still divided into 12 months but of 30 days' duration each), and the week (divided into 10 days). Holy days were "replaced" by days honoring secular humankind. Months were renamed after events of nature like Germinal (seed) and Thermidor (heat). Each day was noted (instead of being a Saint's day) by having an association with a natural item--i.e. the 8th day of Nivose was Fumier (manure) day.

Fortunately, this system only lasted for a few years, until Napoleon Bonaparte restored the traditional order of things. The decimal system of measurement is the principal remnant of this significant effort to diminish the role of religion in a society.

It probably would be safe to say the French Revolution ignited the discussions about science and religion that continue to this day. The thing is, one is about facts and the other is about faith, or perhaps accepting faith as fact. I see no conflict between science and religion at all. To the contrary, science, to me, helps to increase my faith. Nothing that I learned in a science class, with the notable exception of dissection, has interfered with my faith. Even dissection has its purpose. I simply would have trouble doing it. I very much enjoy learning about our various faiths. I can celebrate my own faith tradition, while at the same time appreciate the faiths of others.

This is indeed the time of Christmas. It also is the time of Chanukkah for those of the Jewish tradition. Christmas, of course, celebrates the birth of Jesus in the town of Bethlehem, in the city of David. Chanukkah is a Jewish holiday, held on the 25th day of the month Kislev, in the Jewish calendar. The holiday celebrates the significant miracle of one day's supply of lamp oil lasting for eight days in the Temple during a revolt in ancient times.

Some people these days prefer to say "Happy Holidays" in order not to offend anyone this time of year. I suppose I tend to say either "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Chanukkah," depending on whom I am speaking with. I have many good friends among Christians, Jews, and people of other faiths. Greetings, to me, while important, are but a window looking into the wonder of faith.

You see, I truly do believe in faith...and miracles too. So many times since those dark hospital days of my childhood, I have gone to prayer and those prayers were answered in incredibly sublime and powerful ways. Here's just one example: Just a few weeks ago, I suffered from two toothaches at the same time! While I was waiting for a dental appointment, I was driven as close as I've ever been to the breaking point one night just before bedtime. Although my own faith tradition was not Catholic, a simple plastic rosary had been given to me a few years ago by a fellow at a flea market. Grabbing the plastic rosary from my nightstand, I placed it around my neck, saying "Not silver or gold...if I have to suffer, Jesus, let it be with Thee."

Taking that leap of faith, I found that the pain was gone instantly. That's all I can tell you.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukkah! Happy whatever-your-faith! I wish a comforting faith of some kind for all of you in this hectic and uncertain time, as we mark the pulse of this city for another year.