There's always the danger, when it comes to Christmas, of getting caught up in the least important things: the perfect gift, the shiniest or most impressive decorations, getting or preparing the best meal. I have to admit that it's always something I struggle with, and have particularly fought with this year, which is one of the reasons I haven't been seen on this site as often as I'd like.

And it's odd, when you think about it, because Christmas is a holiday that at its core is about how incredibly simple the most important things can be. We've secularized and commercialized Christmas so much that even Christians with "Jesus is the reason for the season" bumper stickers can lose sight of the fact that we are celebrating the birth of a baby in humble circumstances on what would otherwise be a nondescript day. And whether you're a believer or not, the world you live in has been shaped by the events of that day. It is the singular event that created one of the world's great religions, and one that had profoundly shaped Western civilization for centuries.

So whether you celebrate today because of a child in a manger or simply because it's a time for family, reflection and, yes, generosity -- Merry Christmas to you and yours. And to those who are celebrating some other date or event this year, the happiest of holiday seasons. And keep an eye out for simple miracles -- whether they happen in late December, or at any other time of the year.