Christmas
of Hope
“At
Christmas, time deepens. The Celtic imagination knew that time is eternity in
disguise. They embraced the day as a sacred space. Christmas reminds us to
glory in the simplicity and wonder of one day; it unveils the extraordinary
that our lives conceal and neglect.”
John
O’Donohue
This
Christmas is different from any I can remember. It is a time of discontent not
felt before, even when times were hard. The pandemic has killed so many of us,
all around the world, that it feels inappropriate to celebrate. The spirit is
dull to the usual “Deck the Halls” festivities; somehow all the joy has
been drained from them. But maybe that is not the purpose of Christmas anyway.
Maybe this is our “Silent Night” Christmas. Perhaps we could use this
sacred space in eternity to reassess who we are as individuals and as a world.
Our moral compass has been badly askew for the past four years; greed has
replaced generosity. Christmas in a pandemic shutdown offers us time to ponder
what comes next. More specifically, to ponder what has happened, what we want
to jettison, and what we want to retrieve.
The
gift of Christmas, especially this Christmas, is hope. The rising of the
natal star, the annunciation of angels, the adulation of shepherds, and the
gifts of the Magi are all are symbols of hope. Hope for a future that is characterized
by kindness, forgiveness, and healing. We cannot wait for a messiah to bestow
this; we must find the innocent one who embodies it inside our own hearts and
minds.
Christmas
is not a day, but a spirit—of purity, of unconditional love, and genuine goodwill.
It is uncommon to find it in grown-up human beings, but we do have role models
in young children and loyal pets and sometimes, in old folks who have seen it
all and realized that the only thing worth anything is to love and be loved.
Christmas
“unveils the extraordinary that our lives conceal and neglect.” It
unveils the extraordinary beauty that resides around us and within us if we
have eyes to see. When you look within, you will find it right next to that
faulty moral compass. It is a graceful child, born in simplicity and wonder, who
extends a hand to you, inviting you to share the gift of love it offers this day
and every day.
I give thanks for each of
you and wish you and your loved ones a Christmas filled with light and hope.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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