Good bye and good riddance!

I will admit it.  I'm doing the happy dance just thinking about 2009 leaving, and 2010 arriving!  Of course, I know there are lessons in all the crisis, and trauma, and ugliness, and sadness that was 2009.  Yes, I do know that there were times of joy and laughter, happiness and hope.  But I have never before felt so ready for a new year to begin; primarily because I can't wait to give the old year a swift kick out the door!

It's been a rough year for so many people that I know personally; family, friends, congregants, colleagues.  It's been a rough year for our country and for our planet.  2009 was a year I'll never forget but would never want to re-live.

And  here comes 2010!  It will likely hold some of the same sorrow and trials, but I'm hoping that I've learned a little something in 2009 that will help me to be a better person in 2010.  I'm hoping that what I have learned from the difficulties in 2009 will enable me to better handle the difficulties that may present themselves in 2010.  Is it too much to hope that others will have learned something too, and that they might also be better people and make better choices, and handle our interconnected lives with a bit more civility and compassion?  Don't get all cyncial on me now.  Let's say it together, "Yes, we can"!

There is joy is saying good bye to 2009.  There is even greater joy in saying hello to 2010, for the new year holds promise and possibility not yet experienced.

A congregant of mine sent out New Year's wishes that gave me a laugh.  I joyfully share with you: 
My Wish for You in 2010

May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had, forget your home address!
In simple words ............ May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!

Time to chuckle

If you are in need of a good chuckle right now, check out the link below.

My family is happy to provide some laughs in this season that can be so stressful. Sometimes it's just plain old fun to laugh at yourself and feel like a kid again. We elf ourselves each year and this year we share our joyful silliness with you! Elf yourself and spread the joy!  http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/FB0F10JFhaTwFAC6

A light in the dark

Yesterday, I led a worship service that focused on the celebration of the Winter Solstice.  It never ceases to tickle my fancy when I share with the congregation that the origins of what most people call "Christmas" have pagan roots.  I enjoy reaching back into ancient history and connecting with those roots.  It is in the honoring and celebrating of the Winter solstice that I take time to consider the importance of darkness in my life.  This is a time when I embrace the darkness with full hope of the light returning.

I won't pretend that embracing the darkness is easy, or even 'enjoyable'.  The darkness can be painful.  It is loss, crisis, transition, turmoil, and uncertainty.  But the darkness is also a time for pause; for regrouping; for resting; possibly for re-evaluating life and what is truly important.  I am learning to embrace the darkness with faith that the light will return.  I have come to know, through my own dark times, that the light of love is never completely absent, even in the darkness.  It is germinating and gaining strength for the day when it will blossom once again.  That's what the holiday season is all about - the light of love ready to be born anew in our lives. 

Whether your celebration is about a baby named Jesus, or oil in a lamp, or the sun returning as the wheel of the year is turned, or any other number of special traditions and rituals, be not afraid of the dark.  Know that each and every one of us experiences darkness.  It has been a part of the life cycle since the beginning.  May the light of the holidays remind us all of the light of love that comes after the darkness; bringing us peace and opening the door to joy.

 

Tis the Season

     Tis the season to get overwhelmed!  That's what I say.  Or maybe that's just a good excuse for not posting to my blog in nearly a month.  Truth be told, I've been overwhelmed with much joy, in addition to the usual holiday stress. 
     Thanksgiving can be a difficult holiday when you've spent nearly forty years celebrating with lots of family and now it's just three around the table.  It's not that I'm not grateful.  I'm especially grateful that there are three of us to spend the holiday weekend together.  I'm grateful for the years of memories - Thanksgiving past.  I'm grateful to be healthy and able to make new memories.  But I'm also melancholy.  That's just the way it is.
     And now Christmas is nearing, with the solstice and other seasonal celebrations in between.  More to be grateful for.  More joy amid the chaos.  More opportunity to give to others.  Many of us give and receive many gifts at this time of year.  It starts with the gift of autumn and harvest and goes right into the new year.  Gifts of color in the leaves and landscape that delight our eyes.  Gifts of sweet and savory that delight our tongues and tummies.  Gifts of warmth that delight our chilled bones.  Gifts of harmonies that delight our ears.  Gifts that are exchanged, returned, re-gifted, and gifts that tickle our funny bone.  But the best gifts that we can receive and give are those that have no weight at all. 
     Here are the words about such gifts that have inspired my heart, from Richard Gilbert:
Gifts that matter have no weight. 
They are without substance.
Gifts that matter most are given to us by the Hand of Life in grace:
Moonlight on fresh-fallen snow,
Frost delicately etched on a window pane,
crackling fireside, bright because of who is there,
aromas of cooked food betokening a family feast,
reunion of those long separated,
memories of holidays past, gone but not forgotten,
anticipations of the new year yet to be,
gift-givers whom we love,
the gift of life itself.
Gifts that matter have no weight.

May each of us find joy in this season; giving and receiving gifts that have no weight!