6 Hoosier Banker December 2014 TheTrue Meaning of Christmas – Luke 2: 8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. “And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” As unbelievable as it seems, we are now closing in on the end of the year 2014. At this time of year, we welcome the December holidays – a time when we sing festive songs, send cheerful greetings and exchange gifts with loved ones. We may try to act a little nicer to our fellow human beings, and many will bestow extra touches of generosity. It is a season of caring and sharing, when we declare that it is better to give than to receive – though much of that spirit has yielded to the commercial side of the holidays. That struggle between commercialism and the sacredness of the season was the theme of a classic cartoon that debuted almost 50 years ago: “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” We all know the story. Charlie Brown, the central character of the Peanuts comic strip, sets out to direct a Christmas play. He is determined to convey the true meaning of the holiday and comes fully prepared with scripts, costumes and director signals. But his classmates pay no attention to his direction and instead play, dance and show off. Even his faithful dog Snoopy sides against him. Exasperated, Charlie Brown decides to take a break and, accompanied by young pal Linus, goes out in search of a Christmas tree. The boys arrive at a brightly lit Christmas tree lot, where they are dwarfed by a forest of flashing aluminum monstrosities. Charlie Brown continues his search, spots a lonely little tree, and instantly chooses it. When Charlie Brown brings his paltry find to the other children, they scoff and berate him, telling him he’s “hopeless, completely hopeless.” In frustration he wails, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” “Sure, Charlie Brown,” pipes up Linus. Blanket in hand, Linus steps onto stage, asks for “lights, please,” and then gently recites the beautiful story of the real meaning of Christmas. The biblical recitation ends with, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Peace and good will. How elusive these pure traits are, and yet I am blessed to see acts of peace and good will every day. I am blessed, because I have been working with bankers for nearly 45 years, and my observation is that they are the most giving, generous people I have ever met. The bankers I know and have worked with for decades regularly give back to their communities all year long, not only at Christmas. When I speak with bankers, they are quick to talk about their customers, communities and staffs well before shareholders, certainly before themselves. Their common priority is service to others. Bankers are the leaders in every community regarding economic development, philanthropic service and civic responsibility. FEATURE President’s Ponderings S. Joe DeHaven, President & Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Bankers Association Those of us at the Indiana Bankers Association work every day toward our mission: “To advocate for and sustain an environment in which banks can succeed.” That effort results in our providing ongoing educational programming, communicating hot issues, utilizing joint buying power, creating atmospheres for peer exchange through convening, and being proactive in legislative and regulatory arenas. The reason we are passionate about our work is because we witness our members’ daily servitude to community, customers, staff and shareholders. Each month, Hoosier Banker magazine devotes pages to the good deeds bankers do in their communities. We know we only scratch the surface of those good deeds. Additionally we know that Indiana banks/bankers provide billions of dollars of loans to start and sustain businesses, help to finance lifelong dreams through mortgages and personal loans, and offer sage financial advice to consumers throughout all phases of life. Your staff at the IBA are honored to support and join you in your quest to better the lives of others. This holiday season, may you have the opportunity to reflect upon your important acts of giving and feel proud of your contributions to others. And just as “A Charlie Brown Christmas” finished with a happy ending – with the children shouting, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!” – may you enjoy a beautiful holiday season, with peace on earth and good will toward men. “And multitude manger.
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