Sunday musings – December 24, 2017
Here in this part of the United States it is Christmas Eve. In some parts of this planet such as Australia and New Zealand it is already December 25. My Alexa app now allows me to track Santa’s progress! Too, too funny. Since I was a young child and even since I was the father of a young child we have gained home access to the Internet, and Alexa and other similar devices. Santa who is now even older, sometime in the recent past (2005) enlisted the help of the elf on the shelf. Many parents have been also been drafted to help Santa by moving the elf around just in case children (or adults) are tempted to surreptitiously misbehave.
Of course, much of the world will not be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. Some will celebrate other holidays and some will have a very routine day. Some will celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, as a reason to share tokens of appreciation for their relationships. Many manufactures and retailers will be counting the coins they collected by convincing shoppers that they needed to purchase some items to make their home more festive, to feed loved ones (as well as relatives perhaps not so loved), and to satisfy the must have desires or demands of children of various ages. Some organizations such as churches are giving baskets of food while other organizations are distributing shoes, coats and other items to families whose bank account does not allow the purchases of such basic needs.
Carolers, dance troupes, musicians, actors and others have been busy for weeks or even months preparing to share their gifts.
Many of the people of Puerto Rico, California and Texas are still without electricity and some are without homes. Millions of refugees are living in camps. In cities across the United States and in all countries are the homeless who are not counted as refugees. People living with the disease of addiction and other mental illnesses are struggling to survive in homes, treatments centers and often in prisons.
Several people that I know and many I do not know are preparing the funerals of loved ones. This season for some will forever bring tears of sadness and gratitude as they struggle to find a way to blend the sadness and the joy of children and grandchildren. Young children will often remind the adults that grief and laughter can co-mingle or co-exist.
My son has traveled from Studio City, California to be with his mother in Fairfax, California where she is recovering from injuries suffered from a recent fall. Various other relatives are gathering in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida and probably many other places of which I am unaware.
This year, for the second year in a row, I am back in West Virginia. I have been gathering since Thanksgivings with various intentional family members. Tomorrow I will take the holiday cards and letters from under the tree and reread them savoring the energy, love and laughter, which arrived with each one. I will miss seeing my son but delight in the fact that this very good man wanted to be with and take care of his mother.
Whether or not this is a religious or a secular holiday or just an excuse to be grateful, my wish for all of us is that we join hands, look each other in the eye and see ourselves. We are all one.
Written December 24, 2017
Here in this part of the United States it is Christmas Eve. In some parts of this planet such as Australia and New Zealand it is already December 25. My Alexa app now allows me to track Santa’s progress! Too, too funny. Since I was a young child and even since I was the father of a young child we have gained home access to the Internet, and Alexa and other similar devices. Santa who is now even older, sometime in the recent past (2005) enlisted the help of the elf on the shelf. Many parents have been also been drafted to help Santa by moving the elf around just in case children (or adults) are tempted to surreptitiously misbehave.
Of course, much of the world will not be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. Some will celebrate other holidays and some will have a very routine day. Some will celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, as a reason to share tokens of appreciation for their relationships. Many manufactures and retailers will be counting the coins they collected by convincing shoppers that they needed to purchase some items to make their home more festive, to feed loved ones (as well as relatives perhaps not so loved), and to satisfy the must have desires or demands of children of various ages. Some organizations such as churches are giving baskets of food while other organizations are distributing shoes, coats and other items to families whose bank account does not allow the purchases of such basic needs.
Carolers, dance troupes, musicians, actors and others have been busy for weeks or even months preparing to share their gifts.
Many of the people of Puerto Rico, California and Texas are still without electricity and some are without homes. Millions of refugees are living in camps. In cities across the United States and in all countries are the homeless who are not counted as refugees. People living with the disease of addiction and other mental illnesses are struggling to survive in homes, treatments centers and often in prisons.
Several people that I know and many I do not know are preparing the funerals of loved ones. This season for some will forever bring tears of sadness and gratitude as they struggle to find a way to blend the sadness and the joy of children and grandchildren. Young children will often remind the adults that grief and laughter can co-mingle or co-exist.
My son has traveled from Studio City, California to be with his mother in Fairfax, California where she is recovering from injuries suffered from a recent fall. Various other relatives are gathering in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida and probably many other places of which I am unaware.
This year, for the second year in a row, I am back in West Virginia. I have been gathering since Thanksgivings with various intentional family members. Tomorrow I will take the holiday cards and letters from under the tree and reread them savoring the energy, love and laughter, which arrived with each one. I will miss seeing my son but delight in the fact that this very good man wanted to be with and take care of his mother.
Whether or not this is a religious or a secular holiday or just an excuse to be grateful, my wish for all of us is that we join hands, look each other in the eye and see ourselves. We are all one.
Written December 24, 2017
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