A Christmas card from China

As I was thumbing through some old Christmas cards this week, I came across a beautiful card with the greeting, “With love and peace tonight, we all wish you Merry Christmas!”

Inside was a hand-written personal note:

“Dear Mayor Rothenburger,

“Season’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year. May the friendly relations and cooperation between our two districts develop continuously.

“Dr. Chen Gang

“Governor, the People’s Government of Chaoyang District.”

I’m not intending to drop names by sharing this exchange, but I thought it interesting that a man high up in China’s government sends out Christmas cards. I met Dr. Gang during a trip to Beijing with other B.C. mayors in 2004. He is, of course, a Communist. Yet he recognizes the importance of Christmas to us, and shares in its spirit.

He takes no offense to the fact that others celebrate this time of year, and that it originates with the Christian religion, and neither should we.