The holidays are in full swing with all their attendant traditions. Joy is in the air, well-wishing among strangers abounds, and as the song suggests, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Why is this so? I’m enough of a sap to believe that, through all of the pretense that is the Holiday Season, a great deal of what goes on is really quite genuine. It brings with it a much needed distraction from an out-of-control economy and the horrors of bloody battlefields. Most of all, it nudges us to emerge from our self-centered world and consider the needs of others.

There is an unexplainable delight that accompanies the act of giving. It defies the stalwart edict that “There’s no free lunch!” and offers an alternative to “What’s in it for me?” It helps build bridges between religions, races, nationalities, and other differences that separate us as human beings.

If the naysayers of a moneyless society need evidence of its feasibility, I can think of no better time of year than this to observe the kindness and the sharing demeanor among people. Toys for Tots drop-off points are peppered throughout daily life and every supermarket has a kiosk for food donations. Those who dogmatically claim, “It could never work, people are too selfish” need only pay attention to the Season to consider the possibility. Everyone looks forward to this all-too-brief sabbatical from the competitive, dog-eat-dog nature inherent in a monetary system. Sadly, come January 2nd, we’ll all return to business as usual.

Through the concepts and efforts of The Venus Project and the Zeitgeist Movement, we can break the shackles of our monetary based culture and free our hearts to experience the joy of unrestrained giving. Together we can make the Spirit of the Season a way of life for all people and all nations all year long.