Simple Blessings

 

On this New Year's Eve, as another year comes to a close, I am flooded with feelings of profound gratitude for those simple daily blessings that we often take for granted. Certain circumstances in my life have really opened my eyes recently.

For the past ten days, I've had a nasty head cold: no fever, no flu or Covid, just the full head that makes you lose your sense of smell and taste. I suffered with it through the busyness of Christmas, but was especially sad that I couldn't smell or taste any of the wonderful holiday delights. Then, two days ago, in the midst of a terrible windstorm, our 18-year-old furnace died and we had no heat until the repair company could install a new one.

Thankfully, after freezing for a full night and morning, our new furnace was up and running and by the evening, our house was toasty warm. I was filled with gratitude, but couldn't help thinking about all the people in the world who don't have such basic comforts as a warm home and hot water.

Yesterday morning, I got my long-awaited new glasses. For months, I had suffered with badly smudged glasses that made it very difficult to see things clearly. It was beyond annoying. When I tried on the new glasses, it was as if the world had suddenly opened up: everything became crystal clear! (Unfortunately, so did the dirt in my house), but hey, it needed a good cleaning!

And then, this morning, I picked up an ornament from the living room floor and put it back on our live tree. As I touched the tree, the beautiful scent of pine flooded my suddenly rediscovered sense of smell and I nearly cried! I ran around the house, excitedly smelling everything: my "Holiday Heaven" essential oil; freshly made coffee, toast, my new sage and citrus candle...I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, when she opens the door in the land of Oz and everything transforms to color. I thought about all the people in the world who have lost the use of an important physical ability; whether sight; hearing; smell or physical movement, and I uttered a prayer that I would never again take these things for granted.

Each day, we are given a fresh start: we can either choose to complain about the things that are not going right, or we can open our eyes and become intensely mindful about every good blessing: sometimes the simplest ones are the best. 

Shiny and Bright

 This is the time of year for lights and glitter.  Even as our days grow shorter. darker and colder, we celebrate by decorating our homes with sparkle and color, going to holiday parties and embracing all that is shiny and bright. But if we were to do some soul searching, are we really embracing the true Light of the world in the midst of all that holiday glitter?

It always amazes me how quickly people take down their holiday lights after Christmas.  I want to keep them up through all the dark days, until the warm, bright days of spring arrive. even though I always relent and finally take my tree down towards the end of January.

Maybe people turn off their holiday lights so soon after Christmas because it sadly has become a holiday of shiny lights, glitz and excessive spending that fizzles out quickly and leaves people feeling dissatisfied and let down once the big day is over. There is a famous expression: "all that glitters is not gold", meaning "the attractive external appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature". The external appearance of all our holiday glam is not a true reflection of the Light of Christ, whose coming into the world we celebrate as "the reason for the season".

So, on this gray December morning, I will turn on my holiday twinkle, light a candle, and choose joy, reminding myself to be still, find the true light of the Spirit in my heart and give thanks for the greatest gift of all.

 

Peace... Be Still My Soul

 Last night, as I walked my dog, I watched the snowflakes drift silently to the ground against a backdrop of glowing lamps and twinkly holiday lights.

I prayed silently, giving thanks for the beautiful moment and asking for peace in the midst of my too busy life.  As I walked along, I was filled with a deep, unshakable calm that started at my core and radiated outward, like someone hugging me from the inside. The deep calm stayed with me through the night and is still here, thankfully.

This is the part of faith that is difficult to explain-the experience of an unseen, loving Presence giving comfort or joy or whatever we need in any given moment. It has nothing to do with doctrine or rote prayers or judging people  for "sinful" behavior and everything to do with a living, eternally present Creator who meets us where we are and loves us anyway.

This is grace...the "free and unmerited favor of God".  Like the purity of snow falling on this Advent night, grace falls on us, cleansing and restoring us, whether or not we open our eyes to see and accept the gift.

I find it sad that people have come to think of religion as a belief system that condemns and punishes those who don't conform to certain (mostly) man-made rules. Because of this misconception, many run from religion and fill the deep hunger for God with short-term "fixes" like alcohol, drugs, workaholism or social media obsession.

I feel like I want to shout it from the rooftops that there is a God who loves us deeply and cares for us tenderly, who can fill that void and set us on solid ground.  Even though sometimes bad things do happen to good people and life can seem cruel with all its ups and downs, He/She is there with us in the midst of it, giving us strength, courage and a deep, unshakable calm.

"Peace, be still"...in the silence we will find You...

 

 

 *Snow Falling on Salem Path, by Jeff Folger

Give Us Your Light

 Advent. We light the first candle, moving from darkness into light...

I crave light this time of year. The days are so short; sunset coming at 4:30 and then darkness enveloping us in its cloak. Yesterday, I put up some Christmas lights, in the house and outside, trying to bring in more light, trying to get "in the spirit".

Sometimes it's hard to feel festive, with the world being what it is and our country in such a strange state. I also always miss my mother so much at Christmastime; it can take my breath away. She's been gone now for ten years, but every Christmas I cry for her. She was the heart of the holidays for our family and things have never been the same since she passed.

The other day, my daughter and I went to the Eastman Theater to see the Nutcracker ballet and memories of my mom came flooding in. It was a tradition to see the ballet each year and when my children were young, we'd drive into Buffalo to see it with her. My tears this time were happy ones; my heart was filled with love, for my daughters and granddaughters, for all the family who have passed, for the beauty of traditions that bind us all together.

So, this morning, in the milky light of dawn, I think of the first candle of advent; symbolizing hope: for the world, for our country, for our families. I'm praying that we would remember our traditions and keep our loved ones close in our hearts; that everything our parents fought for in another generation will be upheld; that our democracy will prevail; that the goodness and light in people's hearts will win out over the darkness of evil and despair.

I pray to the One who gives us hope: protect us, guide us and strengthen us for this day; in this darkness, give us your Light.