There are many reasons why this Christmas is more difficult than those of the past. The Oregonian Editorial Board painted an accurate, but not complete picture in this morning's paper. On the other side of the page were letters to the editor. I usually read some of these and always marvel how often the theme of money is present.

This morning there was a short note from a homeless person. He wrote about the unfairness in spending money for the incarcerated to get a college education, but not the homeless. As many of us know first-hand, a BA or MA won't necessarily get you a job in the financial climate of today, but that person believes his chances of getting a job and getting off the street would be greatly increased if he had an education. His letter to the editor was not one of anger, but despair.

Does it not strike you as ironical that our society does more to protect those who break the law than their victims? Is it not strange that those in prison have a voice, but those on the street do not? It is a good thing to get angry when someone mistreats an animal, but are we not guilty of so much more?

I was talking with a young pastor and the topic of Advent Conspiracy came up. I told him I was encouraged that more and more people seem to be embracing this counter-cultural idea of giving. He said it isn't so much because people are recognizing the need for Christ, as it is their own financial situation makes Advent Conspiracy necessary. Unfortunately, he is probably right.

Some say life is what you make it. You have to make your own bed and then sleep in it. I don't know any of these people, but obviously they not only exist, but they control a lot of bed making.

There is enough food and water on this planet that no one should die of starvation or thirst. I believe we have the technology and medical know how to prevent the unnecessary death of millions from disease. I know we have the resources to put everyone to work who is willing to work. When I think of the millions of dollars that are spent on advertising pharmaceuticals with a plethora of side effects, or the millions of dollars that will be spent by unions and business people on the coming Oregon vote on whether or not big business should be taxed more, or the,  or the,  or the  ...

My wife just called on her way to clean a client's house. She just wanted to tell me as she rounded a corner she saw a double rainbow. I told her I hope we will always look for rainbows in the cloudy skies. She answered no, this rainbow found her.

The reason for the season has found us all. We've rounded the corner, but we're not looking for rainbows, just more of the same.