英语作文科技与生活

Atthistimeofyear,fewsightsmoreevokefeelingsofcheerandgoodwillthanthetwinklinglightsofaChristmastree.ThepopularityofatreeatChristmasisdueinparttomygreat-greatgrandparents,QueenVictoriaandPrinceAlbert.Afterthistouchingpicturewaspublished,manyfamilieswantedaChristmastreeoftheirown,andthecustomsoonspreadIn1949,IspentChristmasinMaltaasanewly-marriednavalwife.Wehavereturnedtothatislandovertheyears,includinglastmonthforameetingofCommonwealthleaders;andthisyearImetanothergroupofleaders:TheQueen'sYoungLeaders,aninspartionalinspirationalgroup,eachofthemasymplesymbolofhopeintheirownCommonwealthcommunities.Gatheringroundthetreegivesusachancetothinkabouttheyearahead--Iamlookingforwardtoabusy2016,thoughIhavebeenwarnedImayhaveHappyBirthdaysungtomemorethanonceortwice.Italsoallowsustoreflectontheyearthathaspassed,aswethinkofthosewhoarefarawayornolongerwithus.ManypeoplesaythefirstChristmasafterlosingalovedoneisparticularlyhard.Butit'salsoatimetorememberallthatwehavetobethankfulfor.Itistruethattheworldhashadtoconfrontmomentsofdarknessthisyear,buttheGospelofJohncontainsaverseofgreathope,oftenreadatChristmascarolservices,Thelightshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknesshasnotovercomeit.Onecauseforthankfulnessthissummerwasmarking70yearssincetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.OnVJDay,wehonouredtheremainingveteransofthatterribleconflictinthefareast,aswellasrememberingthethousandswhoneverreturned.TheprocessionfromHorseGuardsParadetoWestminsterAbbeymusthavebeenoneoftheslowestever,becausesomanypeoplewantedtosaythankyoutothem.Attheendofthatwar,thepeopleofOslobegansendinganannualgiftofaChristmastreeforTrafalgarSquare.Ithas500lightbulbsandisenjoyednotjustbyChristiansbutbypeopleofallfaiths,andofnone.Attheverytopsitsabrightstar,torepresentthestarofBethlehem.ThecustomoftoppingatreealsogoesbacktoPrinceAlbert'stime.Forhisfamily'stree,hechoseanangel,helpingtoremindusthatthefocusoftheChristmasstoryisononeparticularfamily.ForJosephandMary,thecircumstancesofJesus'sbirth-inastable-werefarfromideal,butworsewastocomeasthefamilywasforcedtofleethecountry.It'snosurprisethatsuchahumanstorystillcapturesourimaginationandcontinuestoinspireallofuswhoareChristians,theworldover.Despitebeingdisplacedandpersecutedthroughouthisshortlife,Christ'sunchangingmessagewasnotoneofrevengeorviolencebutsimplythatweshouldloveoneanother.Althoughitisnotaneasymessagetofollow,weshouldn'tbediscouraged;rather,itinspiresustotryharder:tobethankfulforthepeoplewhobringloveandhappinessintoourownlives,andtolookforwaysofspreadingthatlovetoothers,wheneverandwhereverwecan.Oneofthejoysoflivingalonglifeiswatchingone'schildren,thengrandchildren,thengreat-grandchildren,helpdecoratetheChristmastree.Andthisyearmyfamilyhasanewmembertojoininthefun.ThecustomarydecorationshavechangedlittleintheyearssincethatpictureofVictoriaandAlbert'streefirstappeared,althoughofcourseelectriclightshavereplacedthecandles.There'sanoldsayingthatitisbettertolightacandlethancursethedarkness.Therearemillionsofpeoplelightingcandlesofhopeinourworldtoday.Christmasisagoodtimetobethankfulforthem,andforallthatbringslighttoourlives.IwishyouaveryhappyChristmas.