My birthday falls during the darkest time of the year. Then, almost immediately, the Winter Solstice is here. We celebrate the dawning of the light and the days start getting longer. Then comes Christmas, and we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the coming of the light of Christ. Being someone who seeks to follow […]
I am reposting “Light in this Present Darkness,” which I posted three years ago. It is just as relevant today, as mass shootings continue. In the midst of winter darkness, people of various spiritual traditions are preparing to celebrate the return of the light. For me, this year’s Christmas pageant was especially poignant, as the […]
As we head into Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the cultural and historical context in which we observe the holidays. So much is wrong with the world, so many people are suffering, enough for Pope Francis to call the celebration of Christmas a “charade.” As for Thanksgiving, I cannot celebrate the narrative of the Pilgrims […]
Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, Epiphany. People in many countries choose this day instead of Christmas to give gifts, as they recall the story of the wise ones following a star and traveling a great distance to bring gifts to honor the Christ Child. There are sinister and dark implications to this […]
In this week or so before Christmas, I’ve been very much involved with family and friends. I’ve been to two pageants, the Nutcracker, family gatherings, a song circle, a Solstice potluck with friends, and birthday celebrations-with more to come. I am re-posting this message, Seasonal Antidotes to Consumer Culture, from last December 21, relevant again […]
