A Naturalist's Christmas wish

I am a religious naturalist, and I don’t believe in Christmas’s underlying religious belief. However, I love Christmas and the season. I love what it stands for. It’s a season of giving, where we are reminded once a year to spread joy to our neighbors, parents, siblings, kids, grandchildren, and anyone near and dear to us. Some of us even make an extra effort to spread joy to strangers by donating to food banks, local charities, and communities in need. Regardless of my religious affiliation (or lack thereof), Christmas as a season of giving is truly one of a kind festival.

I am a self-proclaimed naturalist; I believe that nature is god. The gods I believe in are trees that serve us fresh air, the land we walk on, the vegetation that gives us nutrition, the water we drink that keeps us alive, and the animals we live alongside, maintaining the balance on the planet. These gods take care of me selflessly, even without solicitation. These divine creatures do not get angry at me even when I desecrate them, abuse them, and even kill them. They smile at me for my ignorance, keep feeding me, nourishing me, cherishing me, and maintaining me. Selflessly.

I realize that my wishes will go unfulfilled, but my Christmas wish this year is to continue this season of giving throughout the year. Let's not stop our selfless acts with humans. Let’s show our appreciation for nature as well.