The news this weekend was very upsetting. During the holiday season, I try to avoid paying attention to the news at all costs. I have no need to be angry, upset, frustrated, or sad during this time of year. But the news of this weekend got me down—so much unnecessary killing and bloodshed thrust upon innocent people. It makes one want to hide away and never turn on the news, open a laptop, or visit social media again.
What kind of a world do we live in today? It’s a question that has haunted me before, and it haunts me now.
When I spoke to my dad about it this morning he said there have always been crazy people that do crazy things in the world. It’s just that everyone has a camera now and we hear about situations that happen either right as they are happening or shortly thereafter. He’s probably right, but nevertheless, it’s terribly upsetting, especially when unsuspecting people are taken away from their families in such a brazen manner.
Which brings me to the kind of world I want to live in and contribute to, at least to the best of my abilities.
I picture that Coca-Cola ad from 1971…I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony...a world where, no matter our beliefs, our likes and dislikes, our loves, our skin color, or our income levels, we can live together, respect each other, and, as Coke said, live in harmony. You know, it’s a pretty basic concept, yet it’s so hard to fulfill: to love each other.
I want to think of people like Meg thinks of them in The Letters in the Books—that a little kindness can change people’s lives. Or as Veronica learns in The Ones Closest to You—that a little understanding and forgiveness goes a long way. Or as Scrooge discovers in From Humbug to Humble—that life is better when you love and give to others. Or even as Annabelle (Beneath the Mimosa Tree) and Milly (Inn Significant) learn independent of each other—that sometimes loving someone means loss, but it can also mean there is something new around the corner.
I fashion these stories and write my novels perhaps as an escape from the world we live in, but also as a beacon of light for what we, as people, can do to improve the world. I don’t want to believe that evil can taint our joy this Christmas season. Jesus, himself, teaches us that in conquering evil through radical love, mercy, and goodness, we will “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
This is my Christmas prayer.
For the next few months, I’ll be working to complete my next work of inspirational fiction and hope: The Bakery of Fresh Beginnings. Because truthfully, every morning is a new chance to begin again, to see the world with fresh eyes, to turn sadness and grief into something more, and to be the “good” we are tasked to be. We do have the power to make our worlds a little brighter.
We’re all capable of it.
Which is why I’ll continue to write about it.
About the author:
STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.
Connect with Stephanie on Instagram at stephanieverniwrites, (provided they allow it) and on TikTok at stephanieverniwrites.
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