Every year as the Christmas season approaches I find myself singing little snippets of Handel’s “Messiah” while I go about my normal business.

One of my favorite sections is set to a text from the Bible’s Gospel of Luke that says “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.”

Being a singer myself, I thoroughly enjoy pretending that I am the whole choir, skipping from part to part, singing the word “good will” over and over in Handel’s counterpoint style.

The theme of good will toward the human family has been linked with Christmas from the beginning. We are aware of its central importance in almost every carol or story or even film about Christmas.

Certainly it is at the core of what we refer to as the Christmas spirit. It cheers everyone it touches, regardless of religious background.

This year I have been praying to see the higher meaning of good will toward all of God’s children. Yes, it is wonderful to see people expressing kindness toward each other during the holidays. But it strikes me that there has to be a more universal, i.e. spiritual, meaning in order for the birth of Jesus Christ to have had such an impact on humanity and for this quote from Luke to still have such appeal and relevance.

Then it dawned on me that God is the only source and giver of good will. It’s not just people being inspired to give to people. The universal Christ, which Jesus so perfectly exemplified, is the message of God’s love for humanity.

What exactly is the Christ? According to “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy, Jesus “unveiled the Christ, the spiritual idea of divine Love.”

To my understanding, the Christ is what makes peace.

The Christ is what heals.

The Christ is what inspires us to be fair, intelligent, kind, willing to listen, unselfish, creative.

The Christ is what solves problems and settles disputes.

The Christ is what tells us we are loved children of God and that all are free to express the perfection of God in everything we think and do.

To me, the Christ is God’s divine idea that folds each and every one in a love so pure, so bright with the light of spiritual beauty, so profound with healing, that we can’t help but be joyful.

This is the kind of good will worth singing about at Christmastime.

I can feel it embracing all of humanity and it reminds me that we are all a part of God’s family.

Ever since childhood I’ve loved taking part in a midnight candlelight service on Christmas eve, especially the symbolism of the sharing of the light.

As I tilt my unlit candle toward my neighbor’s flame, watching all of us gradually fill the darkened church with light, candle by candle, until the whole atmosphere flickers in soft humble candlelight, God’s “good will toward men” feels tangibly present.

Nancy Atkins is a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Eugene. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of individual faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community and the world. For information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call (541) 344-0430.