Throughout the Triad, people have been busy buying gifts, giving and receiving gifts, and now returning gifts that just do not quite fit. The holidays have an amazing ability to make us want to reconnect with old friends. It is rather amazing to see how eagerly people pursue every possible means to reach out and communicate with friends and family. The holiday season, whether in celebration of Christmas, Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, or Ramadan, tends to make people want to establish or reestablish relationships with others.

Dr. Randy Waugh, Senior Minister of Greensboro's West Market Street United Methodist Church, told his congregation a story that underscores that point. A University Professor in Salt Lake City undertook an experiment involving the many cards people send and receive during the holiday season. The Professor randomly selected over 600 people from throughout the United States. He did not personally know any of them, but he sent each of them a greeting card. Over one hundred recipients of the card replied to the Professor even though in reality they were total strangers.

One of the respondents wrote him and explained that he had been having some health problems, had been in the hospital, but was now feeling better and looking forward to returning to his normal routines. He expressed appreciation for the card and wished him all the best.

A second person responded to the Professor's card by telling this total stranger that he and his wife and initially been confused about who had sent the card. They were not sure they could remember who he was. But after talking about it for awhile they remembered and were so glad to hear from him. They closed their letter by asking to be remembered to his Father, whom they remembered so fondly.

A third person responded to the card with a friendly and chatty note. In closing, the respondent said that he and his wife expected to be in the Salt Lake City area in the summer and asked if he had a spare room and if it would be convenient to spend a few days with him.

The clear lesson in all this is that people want and need people. It is vitally important that we treat others with compassion, generosity and friendship. From time to time all people feel hurt, confused and angry. It is so important that we seek understanding and reconciliation with other members of a community in conflict.

A cornerstone of character which is so very easy to display in the work place, in the home as well as in school is "Caring - compassion." A well-known greeting card company likes to encourage others to "care enough to send the very best." The very best is a clear signal to others that you care for them - during the holiday season and beyond.