Hi, I'm Jim Denison with Dennis and Form, and this is the Daily Article for December 26, 2023.

Santa Claus delivered $7,883,693,263 gifts around the world yesterday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command,

which has been tracking his movements each year since 1955.

But Christmas isn't over in a town in Finland where the holiday is celebrated 365 days a year,

and you can visit Mrs. Claus any time you wish.

Towns in Iceland, Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Michigan,

and Canada similarly participate in Christmas all year long. Things were far different

in the home of the first Christmas, where streets in Bethlehem were deserted and stores were shuttered

after churches canceled celebrations due to the war between Hamas and Israel.

Presiding at Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and Rome,

Pope Francis said,

Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem,

where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war,

by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.

The most notable Christmas decoration in Bethlehem was a large nativity seen in ruins,

with shepherds climbing piles of rubble and Jesus, Mary, and Joseph huddled in the midst of destruction.

While I understand the Pope's sentiment,

I think the nativity seen in Bethlehem is more correct. Nothing humans do can prevent Jesus from

quote, finding room in the world. To the contrary, he's just as present on this day after Christmas

as he was on that first Christmas two millennia ago,

even more so, in fact, in ways that are deeply hopeful and urgent for our world and our souls.

George Washington, along with 2400 soldiers, successfully crossed the icy and freezing Delaware River

...