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Tuesday, December 25, 2007
#1
Merry Christmas!(It's a white one here in Colorado)
Family
When I was young, family meant my brother and parents and about 40 others who were residents of a small town about a half an hour away from us. Many Christmas days, after opening presents at home, we traveled from one great-grandparents' house to another, then to the homes of different great-aunts and great-uncles, then on to both sets of grandparents. For me, it was a day to visit old people - listening to old people talk about what old people talk about. Not so special to me then. Now I realize how lucky I was to have had so many living relatives. My great-aunt who died a few days ago at 94 was the last of her generation in my family.
Now, family is small. I'll only travel to one house today - my parents'. I haven't always lived near them. For years, I was away in other states (both literally and figuratively) and rarely made it home for Christmas. Now I get a taste of how that was for them, since my daughter lives 1100 miles away and we will not see each other for Christmas this year. I'm not one to think that a holiday has to be just so. A day is a day, and where I am right now is what I work with. But I have to say that last night, something seemed to be missing...
Hmmmm.... family... As Marsha Norman says, "Family is just accident.... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are." Guess that's true about our entire human family. We all just kind of landed here together and now it's up to us to figure out what we want to make of it.
Merry Christmas to the family that most closely shares my DNA!
Merry Christmas, belated Happy Hanukkah, and belated Eid Mubarak to the wonderful people in my life that I've chosen to take in as family!
And to my amazing, huge, diverse family of humanity, Happy Whatever is Most Meaningful to You!
May the world know peace.
posted by Carol at 9:43 AM
2 comments
Monday, December 24, 2007
A Pagan's Christmas Resolution
The House passed H. Res. 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian Faith on December 11th. Being a "simple resolution", it is a done deal and doesn't need to go any further before taking effect. We really need to give our reps some feedback for more important and INCLUSIVE items we'd like them to be working on.
Or we could elect Starhawk to bring some sense to the situation. Her resolution:
Or we could elect Starhawk to bring some sense to the situation. Her resolution:
Hi friends, I thought you might want to see the response I've written for the Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith site, to the question below:
"The U.S. House of Representatives approved HR 847 (see link below) recognizing the importance of Christianity and Christmas. Would you have voted for this resolution? How would you amend it?
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hr110-847
On Faith can be found at http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith
My response should be posted sometime this week and you can join in the discussion. I write for them pretty regularly but don't always post my responses to this list.
A Pagan's Christmas Resolution
By Starhawk
www.starhawk.org
Would I vote for a resolution affirming the importance and contributions of Christmas and Christianity? As my readers may have noted, I'm a Pagan, but I'd vote for such a resolution-heck, I'd even introduce it, if it went like this:
"Whereas Christians and Christianity are of undeniable importance in the world and the foundation of this country, in respect for his example and story at this time of year we make the following statements:
"Whereas Jesus Christ was born in a stable because his parents could not find shelter, and whereas in the last weeks we as a nation have allowed the destruction of the last remaining housing for the poor in New Orleans, and whereas our streets are full of the cold and the homeless, we repent of our policies and in his memory commit to housing all who wander without a roof or a welcome in our cities and our towns.
"Whereas Christ was born among the poor, lived and preached to the poor, we repent of the selfishness and shortsightedness that has failed to provide for all of our children, and commit ourselves to provide health care for all children and for all of the poor.
"Whereas Christ commanded us to 'love our neighbors as ourselves' we repent of the walls we have drawn across borders, the deaths of those who have tried to cross the deserts in search of a better life, the wall we have supported that cleaves the Holy Land itself in two and confiscates the farmland of the Palestinians, cleaves villages in two, and stands as a lasting monument to our failure to achieve peace, and we commit ourselves to establish justice which alone can provide true security.
"Whereas Christ has been called the Prince of Peace, we repent of our eagerness to use war and violence as the answer to every international situation, of the horrific and destructive war we have waged in Iraq which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, and we commit ourselves to a withdrawal of our armies, to a new foreign policy based on the building of relationships, not the bombing of children, and to fostering and nurturing peace."
Anything less is just a bunch of empty words, and real Christians must be cringing at the hypocrisy.
If I may quote Jackson Browne's beautiful song, The Rebel Jesus:
"Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgment
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a Pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus."
As light is born out of darkness, may hope, love and compassion be kindled this season,
Starhawk
posted by Carol at 1:54 PM
2 comments
Sunday, December 23, 2007
#3
Food
Food
Food
Food
Food
Gatherings around food, gifts containing food, excuses and excuses to eat more and more food.
It's all delicious.
And...
during this special time of year only, you can eat all you want of anything you want and, magically, it only makes you healthier, happier and more beautiful.
That's the magic of Christmastime!
It's all delicious.
And...
during this special time of year only, you can eat all you want of anything you want and, magically, it only makes you healthier, happier and more beautiful.
That's the magic of Christmastime!
Labels: Christmas
posted by Carol at 2:12 PM
2 comments
Saturday, December 22, 2007
#4
Today, while standing with Women in Black, I realized that #4 on my list of what I like about Christmas has to be SANTA.
Standing beside the holiday traffic as it found its way into the mall, I watched many people who were supportive of our efforts. Everyone was waving and peacing out (to use a friend's phrase). Still, there were two or three people who passed by that had forgotten to get their Christmas Spirit shots for the season. I just had to stand in silent wonder...
Then, SANTA rolled down his window and waved at us! Santa, the spirit of giving. Passing by in all of that traffic when he has so much to do this time of year.
You know why he laughs with a deep, thundering belly laugh? Because he is overflowing with the happiness that comes from giving to others. He's in the flow, man!
And I hear that he has job openings. There are so many people who don't have everything they need that he's asking for you and me to help by sharing some of our abundance with others. Salary range: Happiness - Deep, Thundering Belly Laugh.
Standing beside the holiday traffic as it found its way into the mall, I watched many people who were supportive of our efforts. Everyone was waving and peacing out (to use a friend's phrase). Still, there were two or three people who passed by that had forgotten to get their Christmas Spirit shots for the season. I just had to stand in silent wonder...
Then, SANTA rolled down his window and waved at us! Santa, the spirit of giving. Passing by in all of that traffic when he has so much to do this time of year.
You know why he laughs with a deep, thundering belly laugh? Because he is overflowing with the happiness that comes from giving to others. He's in the flow, man!
And I hear that he has job openings. There are so many people who don't have everything they need that he's asking for you and me to help by sharing some of our abundance with others. Salary range: Happiness - Deep, Thundering Belly Laugh.
Labels: Christmas, Santa, Women in Black
posted by Carol at 3:01 PM
0 comments
Thursday, December 20, 2007
#5
It's like we live in a complex soup.
Natural beauty
Scraped off mountainsides
The birth of a baby
Young children killed by landmines
Acts of kindness
Acts of war.
It's all here all the time.
Is it right that I "like" only the "good" I find in Christmas and then "hate" the rest? Isn't that adding more hate/war/lack of understanding to a soup that is already full of such things?
I guess #5 of the things I like about Christmas is: people who shine the light on the darkness in humanity. There are so many lights around the world, I could never name them all.
Garth Hewitt's song shines the light on Bethlehem
Isn't it ironic that the town where the Prince of Peace was born is now a city full of such cruelty?
Natural beauty
Scraped off mountainsides
The birth of a baby
Young children killed by landmines
Acts of kindness
Acts of war.
It's all here all the time.
Is it right that I "like" only the "good" I find in Christmas and then "hate" the rest? Isn't that adding more hate/war/lack of understanding to a soup that is already full of such things?
I guess #5 of the things I like about Christmas is: people who shine the light on the darkness in humanity. There are so many lights around the world, I could never name them all.
Garth Hewitt's song shines the light on Bethlehem
Isn't it ironic that the town where the Prince of Peace was born is now a city full of such cruelty?
Bethlehem Christmas canceled: The Wall must fall
They've canceled Christmas in Bethlehem
They've canceled Hope
"Fear is the highest fence." - Dudley Nichols
Labels: Bethlehem, Christmas, Garth Hewitt
posted by Carol at 9:47 PM
0 comments
#6
I went to a mall the other day. I completely avoided the crowded inner labyrinth, only having to navigate the crammed parking lot before and after I visited a store via its outside entrance. I found a parking space and realized that it was only available because the mountain of snow beside it extended into it causing my rear-end - or my car's rear-end - to hang out too far. As I backed out to look for another spot, I noticed the back-up lights on a car parked just a short distance from me. An elderly man using a cane to walk down the snowy aisle signaled to me that, "Hey, here's a space for you!". I gave him the "Okay" sign and he smiled. THAT is what I like about Christmas. The humanity. The connection. Strangers wish each other Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. People ask each other what they'll be doing for Christmas. Shoppers walking out of stores drop paper and coins into a kettle in order to help someone that needs it more than they do. Donations of food and toys pile high everywhere as strangers connect through anonymous acts of generosity. Neighbors stop by with plates of home-baked goods.
Letting go of wanting something from others and knowing that we have all that we need in this moment, we always have something to give to another. Maybe our gift is showing the way to a coveted parking space. The beauty of a moment's connection with another is the best thing about Christmas.
Letting go of wanting something from others and knowing that we have all that we need in this moment, we always have something to give to another. Maybe our gift is showing the way to a coveted parking space. The beauty of a moment's connection with another is the best thing about Christmas.
posted by Carol at 7:48 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
#7
Dear Friends and Family,
We hope this letter finds you well.
It has been a good year in the _______ household. This fall, we updated our old 1980's kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and a nice marble island. We really enjoy the new look.
John's company laid him off last summer and he is still working on finding his next job. We were lucky that we could finance our new kitchen with a low interest rate, since funds have been sparse on unemployment. Because of John's bad back and sciatica, we had to pay others to do all of the work on the kitchen. John makes an excellent supervisor, though, so the job was completed on time. Maybe he should be looking for a supervisory job from now on!
Actually, John thinks there's a good job opportunity right around the corner. You know that beautiful wildlife refuge near the Great Sand Dunes? Well, some Canadian company is planning to tear it up and get natural gas out of the ground. We need all of the natural gas and oil and stuff like that to come from the U.S., so that we don't need to rely on the Middle East and we can keep up the American dream that we all have worked so hard for. Anyway, John sees a job opportunity there. He's sure they'll need lots of supervisors to get those big rigs up.
Mary still spends her time with her bridge group, babysitting the grandkids (ages 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17), and teaching crocheting to anyone interested. Her lumbago keeps her from swimming in our backyard pool, but she still enjoys entertaining around it. Oh, did we tell you that we were not allowed to fill our new hot tub with OUR OWN WATER? Had to buy 200 of those gallon plastic jugs of water and lug them home in order to fill it. Rules, rules, rules... Since no one swims in our pool, we've filled it full from the water coming out of our washer. Took a few loads of washing, but a lot less work than hauling all of those plastic jugs of water!!!
We had to put our dog, Betsy, down last summer. We were all very sad, but it freed us up to take our annual trip to Belize. We had missed that the year before when we couldn't find anyone we trusted to stay with Betsy.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to you and your family!
I really do enjoy Christmas letters and cards. It's good to stay in touch, if only once a year, with people around the country and to remember them for a moment. Fun to see how big the kids have become and what their interests are as they grow older. Every card, every letter that I open, I smile inside and think of the sender. It is good.
But in this family, we don't send Christmas cards or letters. So those who don't read my blog will never know what I'm up to or that I wish everyone a
Season of love and peace that lasts the whole year
May there be peace on earth
(and may we think of our planet and all who live on it when we consider buying hundreds of plastic jugs of water in order to fill our hot tubs; may we let go of greed so that this earth can be the beautiful, diverse ecosystem it was created to be.)
We hope this letter finds you well.
It has been a good year in the _______ household. This fall, we updated our old 1980's kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and a nice marble island. We really enjoy the new look.
John's company laid him off last summer and he is still working on finding his next job. We were lucky that we could finance our new kitchen with a low interest rate, since funds have been sparse on unemployment. Because of John's bad back and sciatica, we had to pay others to do all of the work on the kitchen. John makes an excellent supervisor, though, so the job was completed on time. Maybe he should be looking for a supervisory job from now on!
Actually, John thinks there's a good job opportunity right around the corner. You know that beautiful wildlife refuge near the Great Sand Dunes? Well, some Canadian company is planning to tear it up and get natural gas out of the ground. We need all of the natural gas and oil and stuff like that to come from the U.S., so that we don't need to rely on the Middle East and we can keep up the American dream that we all have worked so hard for. Anyway, John sees a job opportunity there. He's sure they'll need lots of supervisors to get those big rigs up.
Mary still spends her time with her bridge group, babysitting the grandkids (ages 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17), and teaching crocheting to anyone interested. Her lumbago keeps her from swimming in our backyard pool, but she still enjoys entertaining around it. Oh, did we tell you that we were not allowed to fill our new hot tub with OUR OWN WATER? Had to buy 200 of those gallon plastic jugs of water and lug them home in order to fill it. Rules, rules, rules... Since no one swims in our pool, we've filled it full from the water coming out of our washer. Took a few loads of washing, but a lot less work than hauling all of those plastic jugs of water!!!
We had to put our dog, Betsy, down last summer. We were all very sad, but it freed us up to take our annual trip to Belize. We had missed that the year before when we couldn't find anyone we trusted to stay with Betsy.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to you and your family!
I really do enjoy Christmas letters and cards. It's good to stay in touch, if only once a year, with people around the country and to remember them for a moment. Fun to see how big the kids have become and what their interests are as they grow older. Every card, every letter that I open, I smile inside and think of the sender. It is good.
But in this family, we don't send Christmas cards or letters. So those who don't read my blog will never know what I'm up to or that I wish everyone a
Season of love and peace that lasts the whole year
May there be peace on earth
(and may we think of our planet and all who live on it when we consider buying hundreds of plastic jugs of water in order to fill our hot tubs; may we let go of greed so that this earth can be the beautiful, diverse ecosystem it was created to be.)
Labels: Christmas, Please care for our earth
posted by Carol at 8:24 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
#8
8. Another thing I like about Christmas: It's takes place in the winter- at least it does in the hemisphere where I live. And it comes soon after the longest night of the year.
For desert animals like me, this is quite the blessing. I swear, Christmas gives me something to look forward to, a reason to think of others, a need to leave my house in weather colder than my freezer, a light to carry me through the dark, dark days of winter. Left to my own devices, I would MAYBE come out for a hike or snowshoe jaunt during these days, but hibernating until the spring thaw is my first choice. I think that it has to do with my, hmmmm, age and the fact that my shoulders know "frozen" inside and out all too well.
I have read theories that Jesus was born in the spring, fall, or maybe summer, but someone or a group of someones decided that we would celebrate this special occasion in December, near the winter solstice. I'd like to thank those wonderful people for making such a good decision.
One gift of Christmas is the knowledge that during the darkest and coldest time of year, we can realize that warmth and light don't have to come only from the sun.
"You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in."
Arlo Guthrie
(he has always been so profound...)
Arlo Guthrie
(he has always been so profound...)
posted by Carol at 9:20 AM
3 comments
Monday, December 17, 2007
#9
Last December, I posted an article written by my teacher. You can read the entire post here.
The article excerpt below leads me to #9 on my list of
Ten Reasons I Like Christmas.
9. The quality of the child that shines through.
Babies and young children, with their innocence and preciousness, can melt the hearts of even the most hardened of us. We see in them the clarity that is still within us even if it does become covered by years of disappointments and wear. Because Christmas was created as a celebration of the birth of a child who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to (wo)men, many of us take this time to connect with the beautiful child within ourselves and those around us. This time of year is a reminder to put aside our grown-up differences and connect with others through all that we have in common.
AND I enjoy seeing the excitement and magical wonder in the eyes of children as they watch the Christmas lights, visit Santa, and wake up on Christmas morning. The memories of my excitement as a child, my children's happiness, and even the look of wonder on the faces of children I've never met - these moments are enough to give me sustenance for the rest of my life.
Excerpt from the article, Leaving Our Father's House by Elias Amidon:
Glistening Eyes
Some time ago on a trip to Syria I was invited to give a talk to a group of about 40 Shiite clerics and businessmen at a beautiful mosque in the old city of Damascus . I hadn't prepared and was unsure what I should say. I got up before the microphone and looked at the circle of bearded and turbaned men, some in elegant clerical robes. I thought I saw suspicion in their eyes, their arms folded, waiting to hear what this American had to say.
Looking back now, I see this was a moment when I stood at the threshold of my father's house, looking at other men standing at the threshold of theirs. And for some reason I was able to take a step - a little one admittedly - and go forth into the unknown.
I started by talking about children, the little four year-old girl, Roquai'ya, a Shiite saint whose shrine was the heart of this mosque, and the Prophet Muhammad as a little boy whose birthday was being celebrated that day, and the infant Jesus who was spoken of in the Quranic verses we had just heard recited under the dome of the mosque. It touched me that we grown men and women had come here to take notice of these children who lived long ago, and the mystery of innocence and presence they revealed.
I told them I had recently been blessed with my first granddaughter. I made the gesture of holding her in my arms, and said, "Surely some of you must know how that feels, with a grandchild or a baby of your own." Suddenly I saw little smiles appear. Some of them glanced at each other and nodded.
And then I said, "When I looked down at this little one I suddenly realized she was not an American, or a Syrian, or a Russian, or from any nation. Where was she from? She was from God's country. And then I realized, oh my goodness! She was not a Christian, or a Buddhist, or a Muslim, or a Jew. What religion was she? She was from the religion before any of these!"
The men melted. Their eyes glistened. For that moment we were together, outside our fathers' houses, realizing that actually we all shared the same belonging, the same home, the same nation, the same religion, just like little children.
The article excerpt below leads me to #9 on my list of
Ten Reasons I Like Christmas.
9. The quality of the child that shines through.
Babies and young children, with their innocence and preciousness, can melt the hearts of even the most hardened of us. We see in them the clarity that is still within us even if it does become covered by years of disappointments and wear. Because Christmas was created as a celebration of the birth of a child who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to (wo)men, many of us take this time to connect with the beautiful child within ourselves and those around us. This time of year is a reminder to put aside our grown-up differences and connect with others through all that we have in common.
AND I enjoy seeing the excitement and magical wonder in the eyes of children as they watch the Christmas lights, visit Santa, and wake up on Christmas morning. The memories of my excitement as a child, my children's happiness, and even the look of wonder on the faces of children I've never met - these moments are enough to give me sustenance for the rest of my life.
Excerpt from the article, Leaving Our Father's House by Elias Amidon:
Glistening Eyes
Some time ago on a trip to Syria I was invited to give a talk to a group of about 40 Shiite clerics and businessmen at a beautiful mosque in the old city of Damascus . I hadn't prepared and was unsure what I should say. I got up before the microphone and looked at the circle of bearded and turbaned men, some in elegant clerical robes. I thought I saw suspicion in their eyes, their arms folded, waiting to hear what this American had to say.
Looking back now, I see this was a moment when I stood at the threshold of my father's house, looking at other men standing at the threshold of theirs. And for some reason I was able to take a step - a little one admittedly - and go forth into the unknown.
I started by talking about children, the little four year-old girl, Roquai'ya, a Shiite saint whose shrine was the heart of this mosque, and the Prophet Muhammad as a little boy whose birthday was being celebrated that day, and the infant Jesus who was spoken of in the Quranic verses we had just heard recited under the dome of the mosque. It touched me that we grown men and women had come here to take notice of these children who lived long ago, and the mystery of innocence and presence they revealed.
I told them I had recently been blessed with my first granddaughter. I made the gesture of holding her in my arms, and said, "Surely some of you must know how that feels, with a grandchild or a baby of your own." Suddenly I saw little smiles appear. Some of them glanced at each other and nodded.
And then I said, "When I looked down at this little one I suddenly realized she was not an American, or a Syrian, or a Russian, or from any nation. Where was she from? She was from God's country. And then I realized, oh my goodness! She was not a Christian, or a Buddhist, or a Muslim, or a Jew. What religion was she? She was from the religion before any of these!"
The men melted. Their eyes glistened. For that moment we were together, outside our fathers' houses, realizing that actually we all shared the same belonging, the same home, the same nation, the same religion, just like little children.
posted by Carol at 11:42 AM
1 comments
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Ten Reasons I Like Christmas
I might be getting myself in trouble here. I just got back from a Christmas party and I know one reason that I like Christmas. I thought I'd follow my own pattern and, as I did with Thanksgiving, give a countdown. Only this time I'll limit it to 10 instead of 50. And If I can only come up with this one reason for liking Christmas, I'll just stop. I'm a grown-up and I can't flunk this test!!!
10. I Like, no, I LOVE Christmas because of the Christmas parties! Not the office parties, but the friend parties. Each year, a particular friend has a BIG party in her little house. Most, but not all, that come are from the activist community. There are some people that I see there each year and never see the whole rest of the year. All good people with big hearts. I leave there each year with a sense of community and hope.
Hold the presses!
I just heard that Dan Fogelberg died.
Oh.
I wasn't allowed to embed this youtube, but here's the link. I will always love this song: Dan Fogelberg - There's a place in the World for a Gambler.
Yesterday, my great-aunt died at 95 (great as in my mother's aunt, but also as in a GREAT person). Today, Dan Fogelberg died at 56.
Oh.
10. I Like, no, I LOVE Christmas because of the Christmas parties! Not the office parties, but the friend parties. Each year, a particular friend has a BIG party in her little house. Most, but not all, that come are from the activist community. There are some people that I see there each year and never see the whole rest of the year. All good people with big hearts. I leave there each year with a sense of community and hope.
Hold the presses!
I just heard that Dan Fogelberg died.
Oh.
I wasn't allowed to embed this youtube, but here's the link. I will always love this song: Dan Fogelberg - There's a place in the World for a Gambler.
Yesterday, my great-aunt died at 95 (great as in my mother's aunt, but also as in a GREAT person). Today, Dan Fogelberg died at 56.
Oh.
Labels: Christmas, Dan Fogelberg, Parties
posted by Carol at 7:20 PM
2 comments
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Symbols
A couple of weeks ago, we went to dinner at a restaurant in the Lodo district of Denver. Being the non-hipsters that we are, we have not visited the expensive restaurants in the area, but there are a couple of less expensive yummy places where we eat about once every two years or so. I like the Lodo area, because the buildings are old with lots of brick and nice wood. They feel like grandmothers and grandfathers.
Because of the time of year, evergreen garlands and beautiful lights adorned railings and windows around us while we dined.
While sitting there eating, I thought about how I used to feel all warm and magical and full of love when surrounded by Christmas trees and lights and carols sung sweetly. The smell of fir, the sound of O Holy Night, our ritual of going to the quaint Christmas Market in the mountains each year and freezing our butts off while carolers strolled the streets, a candle-lit room full of angel voices singing Away in a Manger, gathering with family and eating too much (ummmm, fudge and peanut brittle!)... The list could go on and on...
But while stuffing my Mongolian stir-fry into my face that night, all the glitter and lights seemed like things you put out because you're supposed to (or because it will bring in money).
Then, before Bah! Humbug! could pass through my mind, I realized that I could choose to feel warm and magical and full of love. Symbols have meaning if we choose to give meaning to them - whether our choice is conscious or not. The feelings that can come from a candlelit night in the cold winter didn't die - a part of me had.
We have kept this holiday time alive for thousands of years, first celebrating the light that starts to creep in after the long, dark night of the solstice, then bringing in the celebration of the birth of a man who came to bring light by teaching love, hope, and peace. OK, and being the great consumer culture that we are, we also add a lot of meaning to wrapping paper and a bunch of stuff that we don't need.
Still, a tree is a tree is a tree (whether you call it a Christmas tree or not). A teddy bear is a teddy bear, whether you call it Mohammed or Fred. A painted statue is just wood and paint - whether it represents Buddha or Jesus. There is something that we somehow do that makes a piece of wood or plastic or metal into something more than the stuff of which it's made. We embed our words and our things with deep and important meanings that may or may not reflect how we truly live our lives.
I think these icons and decorations can be reminders for us, encouraging us to renew our vows to love and give to others. They can be warm family traditions, which also happen to bring about love. I want to think more about the special traditions and decorations that I can use this year to symbolize the light and joy that is present for us at all times.
But these things will still just be things that I have chosen to represent an idea. They are NOT the idea. So, there is no reason to get all tied up in knots about the symbols that others choose - even if they happen to be, in my opinion, a garish version of the manger scene or an over-the-top yard display of every theme under the sun. I am happy to see people enjoying the celebration and it's important to respect people's choices. Still, it would be nice if others remembered that their idea of what's important for the holidays is THEIRS. They may find joy in forcing their religion on others, but it does nothing for those with different beliefs.
And isn't this time of year all about GIVING joy and love to others? At least, that's the rumor I heard.
I hope you find much meaning and renewal this holiday season, in the way that most feeds your soul.
Because of the time of year, evergreen garlands and beautiful lights adorned railings and windows around us while we dined.
While sitting there eating, I thought about how I used to feel all warm and magical and full of love when surrounded by Christmas trees and lights and carols sung sweetly. The smell of fir, the sound of O Holy Night, our ritual of going to the quaint Christmas Market in the mountains each year and freezing our butts off while carolers strolled the streets, a candle-lit room full of angel voices singing Away in a Manger, gathering with family and eating too much (ummmm, fudge and peanut brittle!)... The list could go on and on...
But while stuffing my Mongolian stir-fry into my face that night, all the glitter and lights seemed like things you put out because you're supposed to (or because it will bring in money).
Then, before Bah! Humbug! could pass through my mind, I realized that I could choose to feel warm and magical and full of love. Symbols have meaning if we choose to give meaning to them - whether our choice is conscious or not. The feelings that can come from a candlelit night in the cold winter didn't die - a part of me had.
We have kept this holiday time alive for thousands of years, first celebrating the light that starts to creep in after the long, dark night of the solstice, then bringing in the celebration of the birth of a man who came to bring light by teaching love, hope, and peace. OK, and being the great consumer culture that we are, we also add a lot of meaning to wrapping paper and a bunch of stuff that we don't need.
Still, a tree is a tree is a tree (whether you call it a Christmas tree or not). A teddy bear is a teddy bear, whether you call it Mohammed or Fred. A painted statue is just wood and paint - whether it represents Buddha or Jesus. There is something that we somehow do that makes a piece of wood or plastic or metal into something more than the stuff of which it's made. We embed our words and our things with deep and important meanings that may or may not reflect how we truly live our lives.
I think these icons and decorations can be reminders for us, encouraging us to renew our vows to love and give to others. They can be warm family traditions, which also happen to bring about love. I want to think more about the special traditions and decorations that I can use this year to symbolize the light and joy that is present for us at all times.
But these things will still just be things that I have chosen to represent an idea. They are NOT the idea. So, there is no reason to get all tied up in knots about the symbols that others choose - even if they happen to be, in my opinion, a garish version of the manger scene or an over-the-top yard display of every theme under the sun. I am happy to see people enjoying the celebration and it's important to respect people's choices. Still, it would be nice if others remembered that their idea of what's important for the holidays is THEIRS. They may find joy in forcing their religion on others, but it does nothing for those with different beliefs.
And isn't this time of year all about GIVING joy and love to others? At least, that's the rumor I heard.
I hope you find much meaning and renewal this holiday season, in the way that most feeds your soul.
Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless, unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words.
- Harlan Miller
- Harlan Miller
posted by Carol at 8:46 AM
5 comments
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Dingell's HOLIDAY Jingle for O'Reilly & House GOP
Congressman John Dingell from Michigan read this poem on the floor of the House of Reps "concerning House Resolution 579, which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected." Way to go!
Thanks to One Good Move.org.
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House
No bills were passed 'bout which Fox News could grouse;
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
So vacations in St. Barts soon would be near;
Katrina kids were nestled all snug in motel beds,
While visions of school and home danced in their heads;
In Iraq our soldiers needed supplies and a plan,
Plus nuclear weapons were being built in Iran;
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell;
Americans feared we were on a fast track to…well…
Wait--- we need a distraction--- something divisive and wily;
A fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly
We can pretend that Christmas is under attack
Hold a vote to save it--- then pat ourselves on the back;
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger!
This time of year we see Christmas every where we go,
From churches, to homes, to schools, and yes…even Costco;
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy,
When this is the season to unite us with joy
At Christmas time we're taught to unite,
We don't need a made-up reason to fight
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter, and those right wing blogs;
You should just sit back, relax…have a few egg nogs!
'Tis the holiday season: enjoy it a pinch
With all our real problems, do we honestly need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues I say with delight,
A merry Christmas to all,
and to Bill O'Reilly…Happy Holidays.
Thanks to One Good Move.org.
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House
No bills were passed 'bout which Fox News could grouse;
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
So vacations in St. Barts soon would be near;
Katrina kids were nestled all snug in motel beds,
While visions of school and home danced in their heads;
In Iraq our soldiers needed supplies and a plan,
Plus nuclear weapons were being built in Iran;
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell;
Americans feared we were on a fast track to…well…
Wait--- we need a distraction--- something divisive and wily;
A fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly
We can pretend that Christmas is under attack
Hold a vote to save it--- then pat ourselves on the back;
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger!
This time of year we see Christmas every where we go,
From churches, to homes, to schools, and yes…even Costco;
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy,
When this is the season to unite us with joy
At Christmas time we're taught to unite,
We don't need a made-up reason to fight
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter, and those right wing blogs;
You should just sit back, relax…have a few egg nogs!
'Tis the holiday season: enjoy it a pinch
With all our real problems, do we honestly need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues I say with delight,
A merry Christmas to all,
and to Bill O'Reilly…Happy Holidays.
Labels: Christmas, Happy Holidays, John Dingell, One Good Move
posted by Carol at 4:09 PM
1 comments