Greetings and salutations and Merry Christmas.

This is a piece I wrote for world opinions entitled The Promise of Christmas. Amid Curses and Judgments, Here Comes Hope.

Earlier this year, I discovered two podcasts that have quickly become favorites, American scandal

and American history tellers. I'm sure I'm late to the party here, and many of you already

listen. In both shows, the narrator is

Lindsey Graham, not the senator from South Carolina, different Lindsey Graham. His voice and his

style are unique. He tells each story by bringing you into the event as if you were there,

and by describing what you are experiencing in the present tense.

So in that vein, I want you to imagine.

It's almost noon.

The weather is ideal, 72 degrees, sunny, slight breeze, low humidity.

You look around and everything you see is stunningly beautiful.

The trees, the grass, the sky, the river in front of you, the hills farther in the distance. They are all amazing. The sound of birds overhead is pleasant. The

animals are all perfectly playing. You grab a banana from the tree, peel the skin, and take a bite.

It's the best banana you've ever had.

You share one with your best friend standing next to you.

You look at each other and smile.

It's another perfect day in paradise.

Literally, because you're a man, you are Adam.

If you're a woman, you're Eve.

As you stroll through the Garden of Eden, you enjoy each other, you enjoy your surroundings,

you enjoy the presence of God in your midst.

...