Juvenall Wilson

It seems this holiday season has been all about the rings. There was the story a few weeks back about the broken-hearted donor who left a ring and a note on a strangers car and just today there was a story about a copycat star-crossed lover who ring left in a Salvation Army kettle. These were both good stories, but each one has a really sad undertone to it. Not the sort of thing you want to tell over Christmas dinner, ya know?

That’s why it’s great to read something like this:

TYLER, Texas — A Marine who’s planning to marry a Texan got an early Christmas present: A fellow shopper picked up the tab for a $3,000 diamond engagement ring after the two struck up a conversation in a jewelry store.

How awesome is that? A complete and total stranger using the extra money they had just to bring joy into the life of someone who’s given to his country. This is exactly the sort of selfless giving that even the Jesus of myth would agree over “Screw me!” he would say “Just stop being dicks and try giving a crap about your fellow man!”

When I heard about this, I was reminded of one of the best episodes of the Twilight Zone ever produced. Titled “Night of the Meek“.

Henry Corwin (Art Carney), normally unemployed nowadays, is a man who dresses up as Santa Claus every Christmas in an attempt to spread the love and joy of the season. However, seeing so much sadness and poverty from those less fortunate all around him has disillusioned Henry Corwin to the point he now takes solace in the bottle simply to hide his tears of sorrow.

Others don’t see it that way. They see him as a man giving a bad reputation to the good name of the character he represents when dressed in that famous red suit…the one and only Santa Claus. Things look more bleak than ever when Corwin is fired from his job as a department store Santa after arriving drunk. However, when Henry Corwin finds a mysterious sack which gives people whatever present they most want, he finally has a means to give hope and joy to those most in need on Christmas. A night where the meek, those gentle and kind, inherit the Earth.

Now that’s a Christmas story. Anyhow, sorry for the half-assed post. I just got back from dinner at Shelly’s parent’s house when I ran into this story and wanted to share. Not only am I dead tired, I’ll even be hitting the sack early tonight.