Sunday Musings – December 1, 2019
For many whose religious framework is Christian today marks the beginning of Advent which is a time of looking forward to both the birth of Jesus and preparation for the second coming,
For the Jewish community December 22-30, is the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah during which Jews will commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. During Hanukkah candles will be lit, special prayers will be recited and charity to others will be stressed,
For many this is a secular month of celebrating; a time of gift giving and to gather with family and other loved one – family of origin or family of choice.
For many it is also a time of celebrating the gifts of the year and to look forward to welcoming in the new year; a time for a fresh start and to make resolutions to live lives more intentionally in accordance with core values whatever the source or framework of those values.
For some it is a time of reminding themselves to prepare for the life after death or eternal life. For others it is a time to recall the simple teachings of Jesus to not judge, to celebrate the return of the prodigal son(child), to love one’s enemy, to pluck the beam from one’s own eye before noticing and commenting on the speck in the eye of one’s brother.
For some it is a time of sharing the surplus. For some it is not a matter of sharing surplus but sharing what little they have and feeling grateful to be able to do that.
For many it will be a time of rationalizing why one cannot welcome the stranger who knocks on the border; a time of rationalizing how the 1% having a significant share of the wealth is good for the economy long term; a time of rationalizing why selling weapons for profit is good no matter that the guns and other weapons will be used to kill. For many it will be a time of rationalizing why we need to punish more people despite the lack of evidence that it is morally, financially and practically good for the community. For many it is a time of being grateful that one’s “sins” are not as hurtful or wrong as the “sins” of the others.
For some it is a time of questioning one’s rationalizations, of focusing on what it might mean to do live the teaching of the prophets, of Jesus, of the Buddha, of Mohammed, of the child who is often the wisest of all.
For some it is a time to celebrate what we have in common and the amazing results when we work as one community – one global tribe.
Written December 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
For many whose religious framework is Christian today marks the beginning of Advent which is a time of looking forward to both the birth of Jesus and preparation for the second coming,
For the Jewish community December 22-30, is the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah during which Jews will commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. During Hanukkah candles will be lit, special prayers will be recited and charity to others will be stressed,
For many this is a secular month of celebrating; a time of gift giving and to gather with family and other loved one – family of origin or family of choice.
For many it is also a time of celebrating the gifts of the year and to look forward to welcoming in the new year; a time for a fresh start and to make resolutions to live lives more intentionally in accordance with core values whatever the source or framework of those values.
For some it is a time of reminding themselves to prepare for the life after death or eternal life. For others it is a time to recall the simple teachings of Jesus to not judge, to celebrate the return of the prodigal son(child), to love one’s enemy, to pluck the beam from one’s own eye before noticing and commenting on the speck in the eye of one’s brother.
For some it is a time of sharing the surplus. For some it is not a matter of sharing surplus but sharing what little they have and feeling grateful to be able to do that.
For many it will be a time of rationalizing why one cannot welcome the stranger who knocks on the border; a time of rationalizing how the 1% having a significant share of the wealth is good for the economy long term; a time of rationalizing why selling weapons for profit is good no matter that the guns and other weapons will be used to kill. For many it will be a time of rationalizing why we need to punish more people despite the lack of evidence that it is morally, financially and practically good for the community. For many it is a time of being grateful that one’s “sins” are not as hurtful or wrong as the “sins” of the others.
For some it is a time of questioning one’s rationalizations, of focusing on what it might mean to do live the teaching of the prophets, of Jesus, of the Buddha, of Mohammed, of the child who is often the wisest of all.
For some it is a time to celebrate what we have in common and the amazing results when we work as one community – one global tribe.
Written December 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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