We are soon approaching a refined holiday, "Merry Mas," where Christ will be taken out of its context.

Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.

For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.

For our customers, the arrival of The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book marks the official start of the holiday season.

We were a little concerned. It was a tough Christmas holiday and you never get Christmas back. Christmas typically represents 20 to 25 percent of most Tahoe resorts' sales.

God is here. This truth should fill our lives, and every Christmas should be for us a new and special meeting with God, when we allow his light and grace to enter deep into our soul.