We’re still dealing with the fallout of the tumultuous election of 2020 and the conflicts that followed it.

It looks quite likely that we’ll be seeing a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor in the White House, former President Donald Trump.

The 45th president is facing several criminal and civil trials, including charges related to what happened in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The prospect of an active candidate for president being on trial during the campaign poses yet another test for our nation. His status on the ballot is in question in some states. Meanwhile House Republicans are moving toward impeaching Biden on allegations related to his son Hunter Biden’s business practices involving foreign countries.

Throw in always contentious congressional campaigns and a race for U.S. Senate, and there’s a lot to keep us arguing.

It does feel as if we’re sitting on a powder keg, but it’s not as if Americans have had a break from tension during the years in between presidential elections. In today’s world political rhetoric always seems to be pitched at maximum volume no matter the date. And while it largely goes unspoken these days, the trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on so many aspects of our lives remains a significant factor. It will take a very long time, if ever, for those wounds to heal.

For the next 10 months or so the situation is only going to get more fraught, with people on both sides of the political divide trying to convince the rest of us that the future survival of our republic depends on their candidate winning.

Perhaps we should be used to this by now. American politics has been growing more rancorous with each passing election cycle going back decades. Much of the problem has roots in the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. Anyone who ever watched an episode of the 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” knows that our nation didn’t just discover bitter political discourse. The recent death of that show’s creator, Norman Lear, offered a reminder of just how nasty things could get a half-century ago. And of course sharp divisions have been part of American life from the beginning of our history.

Today we have the added fuel of social media leading people to flock to one side or the other and tune out views that differ from theirs.

Once again we urge readers to keep their cool and encourage those around them to do the same. It’s not going to be easy. There are a lot of strong feelings around these days, and plenty of people eager to capitalize on political passions to suit their own needs. But no one has to give in to this. Certainly people should follow the news. But constant attention to national headlines throughout one’s waking hours is not healthy.

When you do communicate with others regarding politics, particularly those with conflicting views, aim to persuade rather than score points. Of all the challenges in today’s political discourse, one of the worst is the tendency to talk past people rather than have an honest, open conversation.

Remember that it’s impossible to achieve absolute victory, and when the race is over we’re still going to need to live with one another and get things accomplished.

It’s also important to avoid focusing too much on Washington. Remember to keep an eye on what’s going on closer to home, where the national red vs. blue feud isn’t as keenly felt.

Pennsylvania’s leaders have some important issues to explore in the coming year, including ongoing debates over public school funding and the idea of providing government financial support for private education.

We just concluded the state’s first year of divided legislative leadership after a long stretch of full Republican control in the Capitol. It’s been a bit of a rocky ride so far. We urge Gov. Josh Shapiro and the House and Senate leaders of both parties to make the most of the next few months even with the inevitable distraction of a campaign year.

There will be plenty of challenges in the coming year from the national level on down to the local. On this first day of 2024, we call on everyone to do their part to deal with them in a constructive manner. That’s the first step toward making this a truly happy new year.

“It’s going to be hard for consumers to navigate,” says shopping expert Trae Bodge. “The return policies are all over the place.” The biggest change, she adds, is that more retailers are charging fees for returned merchandise.

About 40% of online and brick-and-mortar retailers are charging fees for returns this year compared with 31% last year, according to David Morin, vice president of customer strategy at Narvar, which handles shipping, tracking and returns information post-purchase for online retailers. Those return shipping or restocking fees are generally $3.99 to $9.99, he says.

The good news is there are ways to minimize return fees and in some cases avoid them altogether. Here’s what experts recommend.

REVIEW RETURN POLICIES IN ADVANCE

Because retailer return policies vary so much and many have recently changed, Morin recommends checking the return policy before you make any purchases, even if it’s at a store where you’ve bought from before. “Many retailers are offering an extended return window during the holiday gift season, but always look at the fine print,” he says.

In many cases, says Samantha Gordon, deals editor for Consumer Reports, return windows are shorter than in previous years. “A lot of retailers extended their return policies because of the pandemic, and we’re seeing those accommodations go away,” she says.

For shoppers, the return experience is a critical part of whether they enjoy their interaction with the retailer and become repeat customers, says Spencer Kieboom, co-founder and CEO of Pollen Returns, which partners with retailers to help them manage returns. For that reason, he says, “I always check the return policy.”

JOIN THE LOYALTY PROGRAM

One of the easiest ways to avoid fees is to join a retailer or brand’s loyalty program, which often comes with perks like free returns.

The only downside? Doing so means being on the receiving end of promotional emails about sales and discounts. If you want to limit the amount of marketing going into your primary email account, Bodge suggests setting up a separate email for shopping-related messages.

For Bodge, the pros of joining loyalty programs outweigh the cons. “You can earn points to get free things, you get access to exclusive sales and free merchandise. It’s a good practice,” she says.

DO THE LEGWORK YOURSELF

Shoppers can also often avoid return fees by taking the item to the store themselves. “Most retailers are happy to have consumers visit their store,” Morin says, so they generally make in-store returns free. Drop-off locations have become more prevalent, he says, for example with Whole Foods and Kohl’s accepting Amazon returns for free.

Always keep the receipts, tags and original packaging until you know whether you’ll be making a return.

RESEARCH ITEMS MORE BEFORE PURCHASING

Taking the time to select the correct item in the first place can negate the need for returns altogether, Bodge says. “If you’re not sure about something, go into the store so you’re not taking a chance,” she says.

Gordon agrees: “Before you buy it, make sure you want it. Don’t just buy the thing that’s on sale.” Similarly, if you’re buying a gift, think carefully about the recipient’s sizing and preferences before making your selection.

BUDGET FOR EXTRA FEES

Return fees are likely here to stay, so Bodge recommends preparing yourself, and your budget, for them. “Ultimately, you may have to pay a return shipping fee between $5 and $10 each time,” she says. “We should expect to pay for returns for most retailers eventually.”

Morin agrees. “Free returns for everyone all the time is likely an unsustainable proposition,” he says, especially given the widespread and growing prevalence of online shopping.

Factoring in those fees when making purchases can help reduce surprises later. “If you’re placing an order online, you need to get into a different head space about returning,” and go in knowing that free returns are less likely going forward, Bodge says.

CONSIDER SELLING OR REGIFTING INSTEAD

Andrea Woroch, a money-saving expert, says that if making a return isn’t possible or if you want to avoid the return fee, another option is to regift the item or sell it online. People can sell clothing and accessories on Poshmark, gadgets on eBay and toys or other goods on OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace, she says.

If you’re regifting, just make sure the person actually would enjoy the item. Woroch adds: “Don’t just pass something on to get rid of it.”

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kimberly Palmer is a personal finance expert at NerdWallet and the author of “Smart Mom, Rich Mom.” Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. X: @KimberlyPalmer.

Those are the words many Operation Holiday donors include in notes, on check subject lines or with their names on online donations.

The generosity of our readers is matched by the desire to do more and give more to address poverty in our communities. That sentiment is clearly what drives the success each year in our media group’s holiday fundraising drive. The readers of this newspaper and its related publications and websites in the tri-county area have overwhelmed us with generosity in responding to our Operation Holiday program to provide gifts and food for families in need at Christmastime.

The fundraising for this year’s campaign stands at $78,640.

The program that began at The Mercury in Pottstown has been expanded in recent years to include a broader reach into Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. The 19 partner agencies who this year referred families in need cover those areas and work with us to identify people in need and distribute food and gift cards. This year’s fund provided for 419 children in 184 families.

They include people referred by food pantries in Berks County, an early learning center that serves mostly Hispanic families in southern Chester County, a domestic violence shelter in Montgomery County, schools in Pottstown and Chester County, and numerous agencies that provide food and aid to the working poor, including the Patrician Society in Norristown, Orion in Phoenixville, Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton, and Manna on Main Street in Lansdale.

MediaNews Group reporters interview families referred by those agencies, and those stories inspire giving.

Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. And with a few exceptions, donations come from individuals, not corporations or foundations. They come in the form of checks, cash, credit cards through an online portal, and sometimes loose change. One donor who wished to remain anonymous dropped off $1,000 cash at one of our donation addresses.

Readers of the print newspapers often cut out the story that inspired them and tuck it in the envelope with their check. Many clip the print Operation Holiday ad that accompanied the stories, making sure we knew their payment was for Operation Holiday.

Some write notes, thanking us for giving them the chance to give. Others send a special wish along for a story that touched their hearts.

We give donors the opportunity to designate a gift as a memoriam or tribute, and many of them do, some giving us a full list with a dollar amount alongside for every grandchild in their family or every loved one lost.

Those of us who work with this program — the reporters who call parents to hear the stories of need, the organizers who work with agency liaisons referring families and distributing gift cards, the editors who assign, edit and schedule stories — are struck each year by the warmth and generosity in our communities.

We are also reminded of the need.

Operation Holiday has as its mission providing food and gifts so that children do not go hungry or without presents for whichever holiday their family observes. The mission is intended for those who have fallen on tough times, with the realization that the hardships families face can happen to any of us through illness, loss of job or a catastrophe.

Rising costs of food and housing have created a dramatic effect this year, raising demand at food pantries to a new high, our partners have told us. The funds from Operation Holiday not only provide $200 food gift cards to families and $100 for each child to have gifts, funds also provide cash donations to food pantries throughout the three counties to help with food purchases in the winter months.

The managers of those pantries and the families who have received food and gifts typically send us notes, thanking us for giving them hope when they are struggling to get by. But we are only the messengers, the storytellers who strive to inspire.

The gratitude belongs to you, the readers who support us and allow us to continue daily in reporting on our communities and at this time of year being the link that spreads goodness.

Operation Holiday is our privilege, and we are honored both by the families who trust us with their stories of need and by the readers who open their hearts.

From all of us to you: Thank you.

—Chinese Proverb

The concept of waiting for the perfect time is a familiar one. From launching a business venture to embarking on personal journeys, the idea of optimal timing often dictates our decision-making process. Home buying is no exception.

Many aspiring homeowners fall into the trap of hoping the stars will align, holding out for that elusive “perfect time” to make their move. But the truth is, waiting for the perfect time in home buying is often more illusion than reality, and it can actually hinder rather than help your pursuit of homeownership. I get it too. There are a lot of opinions out there telling what you should do. Therefore, I figured I’d tell you mine. LOL

Timing the Market: A Risky Endeavor

One of the main reasons is the dynamic nature of real estate markets. Markets are influenced by many factors, ranging from economic conditions/cycles and interest rates to local market trends and demographic shifts. The inherent unpredictability of these factors makes it impossible to accurately predict the “perfect time” to buy a home. While you might be waiting for prices to drop or interest rates to decrease, the reality is that market fluctuations are not always predictable, and they can change rapidly.

Opportunity Cost

The concept of “opportunity cost” refers to the value of what you give up when you choose one option over another. When it comes to waiting for the perfect time to buy a home, there’s a significant opportunity cost involved. The time spent waiting for ideal conditions could be better used in other ways, such as building equity, enjoying the benefits of homeownership, and investing in your future. Instead of waiting for that perfect time that may never come, it’s often more prudent to focus on the long-term benefits of owning a home.

Life Doesn’t Wait

Life events and circumstances often dictate our major decisions. Waiting might mean putting off important life milestones, such as starting a family, advancing your career, or settling into a community you love. These life events are more important than trying to time the real estate market. Homeownership is not just about financial considerations; it’s also about creating a stable and fulfilling environment for yourself and your loved ones.

The Power of Being Prepared

Rather than focusing on finding the perfect time, aspiring homeowners can benefit from being prepared to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. This means understanding your financial situation, researching different neighborhoods, and being ready to make an informed decision when you find a property that aligns with your needs and preferences. By being proactive and flexible, you can position yourself to make the most of the opportunities that come your way, regardless of market timing.

The truth is, market-timers always lose. The best advice I can share with you is to talk to a lender far before you think you are ready. The truth is, most people have no real idea if they are ready or not; even if they think they know. We tend to make up these stories, these what-ifs that build up in our minds and create psychological barriers that stop us from moving forward. Until you speak to a lender, lay all your finances out, and get some concrete black-and-white numbers in front of you, you really have no idea how close you may already be to being ready.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that EVERYONE should buy a house today. In fact, I often tell people NOT to buy because it’s not always the right move. But the math is clear that waiting for the perfect time isn’t really a thing … best get started sooner rather than later.

Seth Lejeune is a partner/team leader at REMAX HOMEPOINT in Royersford and can be reached at asksethanything@gmail.com or 610-804-2104.

By way of Colorado.

In an unprecedented ruling, the Centennial State’s Supreme Court disqualified the former president from appearing on the Republican primary ballot in 2024. And why?

Because Trump allegedly violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars those from holding office who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been so dumbfounded, bewildered or astounded.

How? How can someone be denied ballot access when he has not been charged with, much less convicted of, insurrection?

How can the most fundamental of American rights be sidestepped when one hasn’t even been judged by his peers?

Have we really reached the point where the hallowed principle of innocent until proven guilty no longer carries the unassailable weight it once did?

People can despise Donald Trump all they want. And they are certainly free to think that he engaged in insurrection. But since when do we sanction American citizens on beliefs rather than convictions?

To be clear, I never thought the 2020 election was rigged or stolen.

But the ultimate irony is that this decision likely plays in Trump’s political favor, because from now on, whenever he rails against the system being rigged, some who previously thought otherwise will now think he has a point.

In that light, if Trump doesn’t rehash the last election on the campaign trail but instead focuses on the numerous reforms that could improve our elections while calling out government overreach, he will likely expand his base of support, perhaps dramatically.

Voters want candidates to focus on the huge array of problems facing them: border security, energy independence, foreign wars, mounting debt, inflation and tenseinternational relations, to name a few.

But they also want to know that their leaders will prioritize protecting the sanctity of American elections. And on that paramount issue, The Donald, of all people, may yet claim the high ground. Who’d have thunk it?

The way I see it, he’s poised to win the day no matter what the U.S. Supreme Court rules, assuming it hears the case. If the court overrules the Colorado decision, Donald Trump wins big.

If it doesn’t, Donald Trump still “wins” because he can campaign against the system with significantly more credibility than he had after the 2020 election.

That doesn’t mean he’ll win the White House, but no matter how you slice it, I think the Colorado case gives his campaign a shot in the arm since many see the situation as not just a question of guilt or innocence, but whether the law is being administered fairly and without prejudice.

One point worth addressing is the feeling among some that the Colorado decision isn’t a big deal since Trump was not likely to win that state anyway.

In other words, since Colorado doesn’t figure into Trump’s electoral path to victory, the ruling doesn’t really matter.

It’s true that Colorado is an uphill challenge for the Trump campaign, but that should be irrelevant. If Colorado today, what other state tomorrow?

To me, the inescapable irony is that, for all the talk that Trump is the biggest threat to American democracy, it’s the Colorado decision that poses the greatest danger toour freedom.

And I shudder to think how the country could be further divided if Donald Trump lost a close election that he could have won but for him being kept off the ballot in key swing states.

To be clear, this isn’t a defense of Trump’s actions and words over the years, but an unequivocal defense of his right to be judged innocent until proven otherwise.

And, to reiterate, he hasn’t even been charged with insurrection.

Donald Trump should be accountable to only one entity: the electorate.

And barring charges and a conviction, it is we the people — and only we the people — who should decide whether an elected official is fit for office.

Due process should never be bypassed or compromised. That’s why we have objective investigations and fair trials.

The Founding Fathers came up with an ingenious mechanism for removing officials from office: elections, where voters decide whether leaders have earned a return ticket.

That’s Civics 101, and it’s something we need to remember so that power doesn’t get usurped from the people.

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump deserves his day on the ballot in all 50 states. Here’s a New Year’s wish hoping that he gets that chance.

Chris Freind is an independent columnist and commentator whose column appears every week. He can be reached at CF@FFZMedia.com.

Sure, there are multiple articles in newspapers and magazines about financial planning for retirement, also for retirement living arrangements and communities, health care issues and so on. I have been guilty of some of those discussions myself but what people actually do is a subject rarely confronted head on. The column began with a humorous aside.

“The other morning I rolled over in bed and whispered to my wife the three words every woman longs to hear: “Viking River Cruises… Okay, maybe not every woman. And I don’t think this particular one — let’s call her ‘Ruth’ — really wants to spend the rest of her life going from cruise ship to cruise ship, never touching dry land…And yet, I see the appeal. Or maybe that’s just the PBS talking. I’ve seen so many of those Viking River Cruises ads …”

So, the columnist posed the question stated above. “What do people do when they retire?” According to him, hundreds of readers offered suggestions. He included several of them in his column. While he included actual names, for purposes of privacy, I am resorting to initials to describe. Some were humorous. Some thoughtful. Here is a sampling.

J.C. in Virginia suggested learning a new language. “That will sop up a lot of time,” he wrote. “I’m trying Irish, a difficult task.  If I live to be 150, I might be semi-fluent. Adh mor.”

P.C. in Eugene, Ore., “was 62 when he started his slow glide path to full retirement.” He stated, “The most important pieces of advice I can give are: Stay healthy (exercise, eat right) and spend time with nature (whether in a backyard garden or trekking in Nepal). All the rest will fall into place.”

A.S. from Rockville, Md., “said that once she was retired, she was retired: ‘No part-time jobs, no hobbies that turned into work, and absolutely no volunteer work that was actually real work, but with no pay. I was done with deadlines and bosses hanging over my shoulder.’” Regarding this comment I might add that some people could have waited too long to go. It could take a long time to recover from a high paced difficult job. I would be interested to know whether, given time, she might revise her opinion especially maybe as to certain kinds of volunteerism.

S.M. from Annapolis, Md. wrote … “volunteer and exercise.  Volunteering gives one a purpose in life, namely to help others. Exercise keeps the body and those endorphins alive and kicking.’”

Many readers said “they’ve thrown themselves into volunteering: at their church, at an animal shelter, at a library teaching English to immigrants.”

S.S. of Potomac, Md. suggested, “Please gradually get rid of ‘stuff’ in your house. This will be a giant gift to your daughters.”

Not everything describing early retirement was positive. T.M. in Camano Island, Wash. stated “she was a ‘change management’ consultant before switching careers… She noted that many people “cast into retirement” experience a “cascade of emotions.” Initial sadness and depression may be okay. Her advice?

“Take the time you need here to go for walks, declutter, catch up with family and friends, travel, paint your house — whatever is meaningful — to allow your mind and your body to start new rhythms…Once this starts feeling more boring than anything else, you’re ready to embark on the ‘start of the new!’”

Kelly, the columnist, noted the main theme that emerged was “Don’t jump into anything too quickly after retiring — even a Viking cruise ship.”

For me and for another point of view I recently picked up an article from the March, 2017 edition of “The Elder Law Report.” Jan Copley, an author and elder law attorney who returned to the practice of law after early retirement declares “Why I’m Not Crazy to Have Returned to Practicing Law…” I never left nor expect to. More to come.

Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation recognized by the Pa. Supreme Court and the American Bar Association and limits her practice, Colliton Elder Law Assocs, PC, to elder law, special needs, guardianships, Medicaid, financial, and estate planning and estate administration with offices at 790 East Market St., Ste. 250, West Chester, PA  19382, 610-436-6674, colliton@collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, co-founder of Life Transition Services, LLC, a service for families with long term care needs.

Before the new year’s start I sit down and take stock of the closing year and always seem to conclude I had far too many expectations — with too few successes and too many failures.

My expectations were too high and too many, and my failures too many. I thought to myself, what can I resolve to do for the next year that might show more wisdom about how best to live (after all, learning how best to live is what ethics is supposed to teach)?

The answer was clear: Simplify!

The question for the new year then arose: Why are you here?  Or, more simply: What’s your life purpose in a sentence?

One book that helped me a great deal to think about my life was “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor who had learned how best to live in the most horrible situations. He believed that having a reason or purpose in living was what enabled people to survive even the worst situations. Frankl became a psychiatrist whose book sold over 10 million copies and is considered a classic.

Ironically, I was back to an exercise I used with students in my ethics classes when they were writing their books of life and trying to summarize their life missions.

I would ask each student to complete this sentence:  I am here to ___________________________.

I was usually surprised by how quickly and clearly many completed the sentence. They knew why they were here, just never had stopped to think about and express it.

It didn’t take me long to complete the sentence for a guide for my next year’s resolution: I am here to help other people figure out why they are here.  Strangely enough, this life mission summarized how I had spent my life already as a teacher and writer.

Here’s a suggestion you might try for the new year—complete this sentence on a piece of paper and save it to review as the next year dawns: I am here to ————————

John C. Morgan is an author and teacher whose columns appear in this newspaper and others.

Communication

As with all relationships, communication is key. Whether you are engaged or are decades into a relationship it’s important that couples have open and honest conversations about their finances. They should each express their views, expectations, and financial goals and make a concerted effort to come to a common ground. Couples should also share where they are financially, which includes but is not limited to their income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. There should be no hidden surprises as there are situations where one partner discovers the other has hidden debts or bank accounts which lead to major sources of distrust. Having open and honest conversations will allow each person to know where they stand and what they each bring to the table. Communication should be ongoing.

Goal Planning Session

If couples don’t know where they are going, it’s going to be hard to get there. Couples often can be at different ends of the spectrum, where one spouse wants to buy a home in retirement, while the other plans to travel the world. Goal planning is critical, so couples should establish their individual goals and collective goals. They should also segment their goals based on time frames — short-term, which is one year or less, and long-term, which is greater than one year. Goals should also be ranked in order of priority, which ensures they are not only being met but also helps to reduce stress.

Combining Wealth

Combining wealth depends on each person’s circumstances. However, there should be at least one joint account used to pay household bills and one account for their bills. If one spouse is coming into a marriage with inherited wealth, it might make better sense not to comingle their wealth to avoid disrupting larger estate planning goals.

Money, marriage, or partnership can be difficult to navigate as everyone’s situation will differ. Some will come into a marriage with more wealth than their spouse and some may come into a marriage with children from previous marriages or relationships, which can add a layer of complexity. The situations can be very difficult to navigate on your own, which is why it’s important that you work with your attorney, tax advisor, and financial advisor to craft a plan that works for you.

Donald Lyons is a Wealth Strategist with Bryn Mawr Trust. With 20 years of experience in wealth management, he provides high-net-worth clients with fiduciary and investment management services. Lyons provides comprehensive financial planning focused on income replacement, asset management, incapacity, and estate planning.  He also has experience working with endowments, foundations, and other nonprofit institutions. Lyons is a Certified Financial Planner professional.

The main character in the poem was a cobbler named Conrad who made shoes for a living.

And in his tiny village, Conrad was known to all as a good, righteous and kindhearted gentleman.

One evening, Conrad had a dream. When he awoke early the next morning, he looked outside, and the sky seemed to grow brighter and brighter with every passing second.

Conrad thought for a moment, and then he vividly recalled what he had dreamt.

Feeling happy, he remembered that in his dream Jesus appeared to him and said, “I will be visiting you today.”

The dream was so real that Conrad believed it would come true. So with an ever-present smile, Conrad prepared for Jesus arrival.

He cooked, cleaned, set the table and decorated his humble shop with a thousand boughs of green.

Then, Conrad patiently waited for Jesus to knock at his door. It was the happiest day of his life.

Hours passed and with a joy-filled expression on his face, Conrad sat in a chair, waiting and waiting.

In great anticipation, Conrad was thinking about all the wonderful things he would do with Jesus when he arrived.

However, Conrad’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an elderly man’s voice.

Conrad walked over to the front door and opened it. Outside, he saw the man shivering. Without delay, Conrad invited him inside to keep warm from the blustering cold rain.

As Conrad talked to the man, he noticed holes in the man’s shoes, as they were completely worn through.

So, Conrad went into his workshop and gave him a sturdy pair of new shoes to wear.

Afterward, the grateful man went on his way briskly.

By that time, it was afternoon. Jesus hadn’t yet arrived. Still, Conrad waited.

But before Conrad could do anything else, there was a slight knock on the door.

Eagerly, Conrad answered it, and there was a poor, hungry woman. Her arms were crossed in front of her and she nodded, “Hello.”

Conrad welcomed her in and generously gave her some food to eat. Soon thereafter, waving, she left his home.

Conrad shrugged his shoulders and again sat down contented. He continued waiting for Jesus to arrive.

At that point, Conrad heard someone crying. From his window, he gazed outside. It was a frightened child who was lost in the dark night. Quickly, Conrad ran to him.

“Don’t cry,” Conrad uttered gently, comforting the child the best he could.

Then, he leaned over, took the child’s small, icy-cold hand in his, and brought the child home safely to his family.

Later that evening, Conrad returned home. He sighed. Furrowing his brow and in a moment of despair, he lowered his voice and asked, “Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay? Did you forget that this was the day?”

Then soft in the silence, a voice he heard:

“Lift up your heart, for I kept My word.

Three times I came to your friendly door;

Three times My shadow was on your floor.

I was the man with the bruised feet.

I was the woman you gave food to eat,

I was the child on the homeless street.”

Indeed, Jesus had visited Conrad’s home.

For Scripture says it beautifully, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Hence, no matter where you are today, you are needed. While God performs miracles all the time, He also needs and is counting on you to carry out His wondrous work.

Yet, you may think, “I’m only one person. How can I make a difference?”

But God delights in changing the world through one person at a time.

Just as Jesus often touched people in order to bless them…

• You are the hands with which God can use to bless another.

• You are the voice who can offer to someone a life-altering prayer or an optimistic word of encouragement.

• You’re the feet who can walk with people and help them through difficult times.

• Yours are the positive thoughts that can wish others well.

• Yours is the beautiful smile that can bring a person joy and comfort.

• And yours is the understanding ear who can listen and give kind reassurance and hope for someone’s future.

A while ago, I heard about an artistic little girl who loved to draw. She always seemed to have a pencil in her hand sketching on a drawing pad.

On a wintry morning after breakfast, the girl was seated at the kitchen table drawing intently.

Something was different about this sketch. Glancing over at her paper, the mother asked, “Honey, what are you drawing?”

Promptly, the girl answered, “I’m making a picture of God.”

Taking a seat next to her sweet daughter, the mother said slowly, “Since nobody has seen God, no one will know what God looks like.”

The girl continued drawing and with a smile of confidence she replied, “When I get through with my picture, they will.”

In the same way, this Christmas season and all year through, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise and ‘recognize’ our Heavenly Father” within you. (Matthew 5:16).

Therefore, don’t let anything keep you from being a great influence in the lives of your fellow human beings.

God has given you special gifts and strengths. And He has chosen you to make a profound difference and to be a blessing to others. The best part of your life is still in front of you.

So reflect the light of the Son and find someone to be good to every single day.

For the world needs your radiance to shine brightly to make it a better place.

May the wonder and joy of the holidays fill your heart. From my family to yours, have a blessed Christmas.

Our state has far more local government subdivisions than many others. The world has changed tremendously since many of these lines were drawn. Things could be operated much more efficiently.

The problem is that when it comes to their own communities, people are less likely to embrace this sort of change.That’s especially true when it comes to school districts.

Emotional ties and history make it difficult for communities to give up their longtime district identities. And when difficult circumstances do lead a district to seek a merger partner, it leads to tremendous opposition from the community being asked to take them in.

No wonder there’s only been one school district merger in Pennsylvania in recent decades. That was in Beaver County and involved a pair of districts with flagging enrollment levels. It’s harder to accomplish a merger when one district effectively is being asked to take in a struggling neighbor.

The Antietam School District is a good example of the challenges involved. A decade ago, the district engaged in preliminary merger talks with neighboring Exeter. The opposition among Exeter residents was fierce, and the idea was put aside.

A decade ago the merger idea was floated because Antietam has a small, heavily residential tax base with little room for economic growth. Those conditions haven’t changed. The district has the highest tax rate in Berks County.

What has changed is that Antietam suffered tremendous damage during flooding in early July. The district’s high school took a big hit and is closed for the year while officials figure out the best way to address the situation. As they weigh their options, district leaders have reached out to neighboring districts to gauge interest in the possibility of a merger.

One of those districts — Oley Valley — had a discussion of the idea in which troubling comments were made. A resident suggested that Antietam’s proximity to Reading meant that its children would be of a “different element” than the “good kids” in Oley Valley schools. A school board member indicated agreement with the statement.

That expression of bigotry was roundly condemned in the wake of the meeting, and rightly so. But it’s reflective of a larger problem.Too many people take a narrow-minded view toward education, wanting the best for their own community but paying little heed to what’s happening in neighboring districts, even when they are mere steps away. When another district is facing issues, it’s seen as someone else’s problem.

We find this very troubling but not surprising. It’s human nature to focus on one’s own needs first. There are legitimate concerns about mergers when it comes to finances and educational issues such as class size. We’ve seen that appeals to altruism are not enough to overcome them.

Ultimately it is up to the state to address this problem. After all, the entire public school system is under Harrisburg’s purview. And the state has acted to address school mergers in the past. Back in the 1960s action by the Legislature led to mergers that brought the number of districts from about 2,200 to 669 in just 10 years. Today there are 500.

But the idea is just as politically touchy in Harrisburg as it is on the local level. Gov. Ed Rendell’s effort to consolidate districts went nowhere, and though the notion of pushing for school mergers comes up from time to time, nothing of substance has been approved.

The idea of mandating school mergers was controversial in the 1960s and would be even more so today. But the state could offer some incentives to make mergers more palatable. State Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County, has proposed measures that would ease the financial burden on merging districts. Enough help from the state would defuse one of the most potent arguments against mergers — that it will be too costly for local taxpayers.

Finally establishing more equitable school funding by the state would help, too.

For too long there has been a desperate need to change the way the state goes about paying for education. The contrasting fortunes of neighboring districts is very much a symptom of this.

The state must make sure every student in Pennsylvania has an opportunity for the best possible education, regardless of their address.