FOR those who profess Christian faith, Christmas marks the birth of their Saviour two millennia ago. For those without such certainty in their lives, Christmas may be anything from a great annual spend-fest and excuse for excessive consumption to a charming remnant of pagan festivals held as the days began to grow longer and winter began to wane.

However, irrespective of the significance which people assign to this time of year, it is without question a holiday which draws family and friends together and encourages celebration, fellowship and goodwill. It is also a time for reflection, taking stock and for realising that the benefits of Jersey’s affluent society are by no means distributed equally.

The story of Christ, born in a stable into the most humble of families whose members were soon to become fugitives, must surely remind the faithful and the faithless alike that wealth and power are not the be-all, and end-all, of human existence. Even those who are sceptical about the divinity of the infant Jesus may be struck by the deeply moral character of what has been passed down to us in the record of his teaching.

It is, therefore, a hard heart which does not turn to thoughts of others less fortunate as we prepare for all that turkey, all that wine, the after-lunch snooze and the profusion of presents. Here in Jersey we have an opportunity to make a difference to the Christmas of the less well-off by contributing generously to the Joint Charities Appeal. But is that enough? Charity might begin at home, but there are shortages, sufferings and hardships in so many other parts of the world to which we should turn our minds.

If we are to concentrate on those with links to our lives and our welfare, consider the troops in Afghanistan who are, amid awful sacrifice, attempting to assure our security. Looking further afield, there is so much to be done in the developing world which can only dream of our wealth and excess.

Thus, promoting the message that we must do all that we can to improve the situation of those at home and abroad who will not enjoy plenty at Christmas and urging Islanders to consider all those whose duties will involve public service over the holiday, the Jersey Evening Post offers its best wishes for the season and hopes that there will be general prosperity in the undoubtedly challenging, but potentially fruitful, year ahead.