Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy New Year!
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Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Be the Gift
I once heard a woman say in the flurry of "doing" Christmas that she'd decided one afternoon to "be the gift." Often a phrase like this means giving a gift of time: changing someone's lightbulbs or hanging out with them or some such.
But this woman was thinking of it differently. And she was on her way to the mall at the time. So she proceeded to be especially nice to every clerk or cashier she met, every shopper she bumped against. The whole experience was lighter, easier; and she had a wonderful time. Don't you love that? I thought it quite bold.
Another way of thinking about this approach, which I ran across in a sermon: "A Quaker friend of mine used to say to me, 'I will hold you in the light.'”
Of course the whole busy business also applies to Hannukah celebrations and others at this time of year. I've also seen the experience referred to as "doing December." Whatever the occasion, "being the gift" can work.
I watch people like my office partner who celebrates both Christmas and Hannukah (interfaith marriage) and once did a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony on the fold-down tray table on a flight to France (where they were to spend a year) with her family including brand-new baby. Now that's multi-tasking. Or multi-enjoying. She's one who is good at being the gift.
If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much.
But this woman was thinking of it differently. And she was on her way to the mall at the time. So she proceeded to be especially nice to every clerk or cashier she met, every shopper she bumped against. The whole experience was lighter, easier; and she had a wonderful time. Don't you love that? I thought it quite bold.
Another way of thinking about this approach, which I ran across in a sermon: "A Quaker friend of mine used to say to me, 'I will hold you in the light.'”
Of course the whole busy business also applies to Hannukah celebrations and others at this time of year. I've also seen the experience referred to as "doing December." Whatever the occasion, "being the gift" can work.
I watch people like my office partner who celebrates both Christmas and Hannukah (interfaith marriage) and once did a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony on the fold-down tray table on a flight to France (where they were to spend a year) with her family including brand-new baby. Now that's multi-tasking. Or multi-enjoying. She's one who is good at being the gift.
If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Twelve -- or Maybe Two -- Stages of Christmas
Got past the day of holiday agitation. Now it just feels like I'm happily and confidently in the process of landing a small plane, for maybe the second or third time, never mind that this is my 59th Christmas.
I take things too damn seriously. And I doubt if that's going to change a lot. Or if it does it won't be through my straining to make it so. So for the moment I guess I'll just taxi in as is, and then fly off again somewhere else, no doubt to the quiet complexity and soothing pleasures of January.
Bold doesn't have to be simple and slapdash. I'm sure of that.
If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much.
I take things too damn seriously. And I doubt if that's going to change a lot. Or if it does it won't be through my straining to make it so. So for the moment I guess I'll just taxi in as is, and then fly off again somewhere else, no doubt to the quiet complexity and soothing pleasures of January.
Bold doesn't have to be simple and slapdash. I'm sure of that.
If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much.
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