Caroling over prosperity no tune for poor

That damn Christmas music is painful to hear;

It just makes this an uncomfortable time of year.

Hearing candle glow and mistletoe extolled isn't soothing to a driver fuming in stinky stalled traffic on routes leading to shopping centers or dodging hordes of pedestrian traffic at the mall and market.

Visions of sugarplums are beyond the focus of the hungry man foraging in the park trash can.

"No Place Like Home for the Holidays" hits a sour note for people sleeping outdoors or in cubicles at homeless shelters. Hopefully it's deleted from the soundtrack at nursing homes and hospitals.

And that paean to "peace on earth" heard in the original Christmas carol? Given the daily headlines, that's a concept to bring tears to the eyes.

Giving is a good thing, but a culture that sanctifies possessions as the measure of a person has corrupted it to "gimme." Alas for those poor folks who waited in line for those most-hyped items on the market this season and didn't get the few available copies. Alas for the children who won't find the year's pricey toy du jour under the tree.

Don't misunderstand. It's good that silver bells are ringing this year for small businesses that are thriving and people with steady jobs in a healthy economy. They deserve to sing a hallelujah chorus.

For a person with a bad case of bah-humbug-itis, there's hope for a cure in the religion page releases about holiday events. There's a church that sets the price of admission to its Christmas program as a can of food destined for the poor. A Hanukkah celebration notice calls partygoers to bring gift cards for food for families in a homeless shelter project.

For someone who "needs a little Christmas, right this very minute," the lesson is that the great season of light and joy and hope needs to start with a little spark.

Make Christmas warm and bright for all who need shelter, clothes, security? That's overwhelming. Take a carload of surplus shirts, shoes and blankets to Kaumakapili Church's outreach basement -- that's on.

Turn back time to the happy, golden days of yore for a friend lonesome for the lively family holidays of the past? Not possible. Set aside time to listen to the stories -- yes, can do.

Keep all those kids in shelters and tents from going to bed hungry? It'll take more than a village. Investing in canned food and Zippy's and McDonald's gift certificates sounds like a plan. Volunteering at the church's food pantry sounds like a commitment.

Peace on earth, that's the song that needs audience participation. We all wish the angelic message about good will to men would catch on.

Peace needs a lot of work even on the home front. It can start by backing off the bumper of the car ahead in traffic, from the bullying posture that seems to come with driving a big vehicle. Let the guy in the next lane merge ahead of you. Respect the folks who patiently wait -- not cut -- in line, and become one of them. Answer a honk with a wave -- all five fingers, if you please.

These aren't the lyrics from any familiar song, but if you make "please, thanks and after you" your holiday song, it will drown out the canned carols for fellow shoppers and beleaguered store employees. Deliver it with a smile and perfect it, and you'll set off a chorus singing the same refrain.

Practice Christmas with patience, generosity and kindness and the "bah, humbug" will melt away like dear old Frosty.

Mary Adamski covers religion for the Star-Bulletin. Reach her at madamski@starbulletin.com.