Humming Along After Christmas

Catch the hum, whenever you can. It's a busy time that needs a hum.

Children and older folks, can set aside the formalities of politeness. Closing their eyes right in front of you, because they've just plain had enough.

The sharing of stories, of the real and the made-up. And after so long, does it really matter?

Listening to the hum of silence as the house empties, the giggles and the guffaws, subsiding.

Sit with the new book, the new toy, the new game, the new coffee grinder.

Humming Along #Portland

Listen for the hum. Let go of the noise. (Tweet This)

The music in the background, the keyboard tapping, the dishwasher swishing (again). Enjoy the hum, until the doorbell rings again.

The laughing begins, the feet are curled up, the fireplace is turned on, the little ones are shoo'ed out of reach of touching something hot.

Or filling the bathtub with bubbles in the middle of the day?

Having a nap? Is that what I hear?

And as the week goes on, and some are preparing for another celebration, many are just humming along.

Catch the hum. However you can. You'll be glad you did. (Tweet This)

My Light in the Night

Some years ago during the trials of an ending marriage, Christmas was a tedious event which offered little joy. I remember one specific Christmas well. My aging parents leaving right after dinner by 7pm, my young adult children heading out to the skating rink or a movie to be with friends, there wasn’t even a dog in site who needed a cuddle. I was sad and I was lonely.

Now picture the scene: Christmas night, early evening, dishwasher on, nothing to do. I decided to put on my running shoes and step outside for a walk to clear my head. The air was crisp and free, stars twinkled, someone’s fireplace provided a comforting scent. As I walked, the snow started to fall, twirling around the light posts in the dark night. What came as a surprise to me as I walked in my neighbourhood was how many families celebrated (or didn’t) celebrate Christmas, everyone was different. There was no such thing as a perfect Christmas like you see in the movies.

There were houses lit sublimely with a couple wandering around in their pajamas, boisterous parties with cars parked up and down the road, there were families around the dining table, and some folks with a TV tray in front of the television.

What I realized that evening was that the Christmas I was experiencing was just temporary, as were all the others before and the ones to come. It was not perfect but it was mine to do with as I saw fit. All I had that day was myself and hope and faith.

If you are surrounded by family and friends, be well, be gentle, be loving. This Christmas will be like no other.

If you are alone or lonely, be well, be gentle, be loving. This Christmas will be like no other.

May you find peace in your heart.

Grumpy is not one of the 12 days of Christmas

There are times when people need to be TOLD. That’s why there are traffic lights and In/Out doors, line-ups in front of a cash register and an “over-limit” price on super fantastic sale items. I’m seeing a theme here, it is the onslaught of Christmas Shopping Incomplete Syndrome. 

We are all getting grumpy. We are annoyed by those among us who sit relaxed sipping a cup of tea (do they not have family/friends to buy for?) who say they are DONE (their shopping, I mean; not DONE as in they aren’t buying any gifts this year). As much as they pi*s me off, I also can’t help but admire them. And therein lies the grumpiness. I do not have a big family, I am not extravagant, but still I am NOT DONE! When exactly did these people start their shopping?

Each year I think that I will be one of them. I will pick up the perfect gift for each loved one during the perfect moment in the perfect shop in March, or while on vacation in July. Then voila, I would be DONE too before the Christmas music started playing in the malls. Heck, I’d be done by Halloween. Yea right. Each year comes and each year goes, and I convince myself that I am buoyed by the excitement of shopping in crowded malls with unhappy couples and lost children. *humbug*

Maybe I should be TOLD by the people who are DONE when to start, where to go, what to craft, and what to buy. Then I can sit smugly, do a crossword and sip my own beverage.

Transparent Houses - 5

Grace was disappointed that the film presentation she had been looking forward to all week had been postponed. Had the film not arrived? Had the gallery's technology broken down? Was there a copyright law that had not been adhered to? What would she do with this "extra" time until her next appointment?

As an apology, the gallery had handed out small gift bags with (of course!) advertising material. However, hanging from the rope handle was a small ornament. Grace exclaimed at the ornament and was told that it came from the shop next door.

She side-stepped around a woman who was standing intently looking at the shop window and was almost run over by a man in jeans. He was wielding what appeared to be a cast iron obelisk through the doorway. How brave he was, taking such a weighty object into a space with such fragile things. Grace moved the gift bag to her other hand and held the door as he squeezed by. All she noticed was the size of his hands.

Once inside she was halted in awe by what she saw. How fortunate that she had stopped inside this shop that she had never ventured in before. What delight to see the array of colours, matte and shiny, in a variety of styles and shapes tucked into every available nook and cranny that could be found.  Looking upwards, Grace felt euphorically light-headed seeing the reflections of everything that dangled.

As Grace faced in each direction, she felt like she had as a small child in her Grandfather's house. How the mosaic floor, could make you giddy when you twirled yourself at high speed. A childhood prelude to having "one too many" in later youthful experiences with cheap red wine. As she faced the front window, she saw that the woman was still there. Like she herself, had stopped time in a bottle.

There was one instant when the sun shone through and lit on the same star hanging in the window that Grace had been given with her gift bag. The woman outside was transfixed, and a slow tear stopped on her cheek and her face broke into a dawning smile. She had received an answer.

Merrick left behind his newest creation for consignment with the staff and scooped the star ornament in his paw. His niece would like this. Now, he was done his shopping.

She was still there, like she herself had stopped time in a bottle. (Click to Tweet)

For the rest of The Little Story, read here. 

Blessings to All and to All a Goodnight

In the next few days, there will be a lot happening at your local church. For those who attend regularly, the familiar will call you back. The soft light, the smell of candles, greens and flowers and the music always speak to us. 

There will also be infrequent visitors, those who will be there to honour someone who has recently left their life (“Mum would have loved this”) or because of someone who has entered it. We will step into something new and make it our own because of love. We will marvel at how our lives have melded and meshed in seamless unison.

We will pull out our traditions like tangled garland and lights and enjoy them because they are ours. We will smile in realizing the good things and weep at our memories of last Christmas, of what has sadly changed, and for what hasn’t, sadly.

We will immerse ourselves in the way “we have always done things” and relax into its comfortable arms, like a heartfelt hug that we have been waiting for all day. We will pull out old dishes and cook meals that we grew up with and once again exclaim at how wonderful they are or how we have improved them!

When the 25^th is at our doorstep, you might worship within four enclosed walls or choose to worship in wide-open spaces. But we ALL have huge wishes and tantalizing dreams even though we may hide them daily in quite efficient ways.

This Christmas, set your wishes free and let the Season be a magical time for you, never forgetting and with gratitude the amazing things that have transpired during this year.

Whoever you are and wherever you are – may you be blessed by the God you know, may you feel the calm and abundance that your heart craves, may you be surrounded by those you love and those that say they "love you more”.

I wish for you a heart that is open to all the joy and wonder of this Christmas Season.