Sacred
Whatever your system of meaning, you’re invited to drop into the holy moments. Entering every gathering and quiet reflection with conscious intent. Claiming the opportunity to celebrate until you are love soaked and light filled. Imagine radiating the generous energy of love to everyone you meet. Everyone would benefit, especially the beleaguered check out clerk and your grumpy Aunt Nancy.
Santa
I know not everyone believes in Santa (gasp!) nor celebrates this mythic archetype hijacked by society’s materialism. Regardless of where you are now, I encourage you to seek the magic and delight of this character. It’s a shared delusion that offers adults the playful opportunity to join children in believing in the unseen.
It’s fun. Until it isn’t. We were sharing stories about Christmas at Thanksgiving dinner this year.
“Christmas was more fun before Santa died.”
My offspring has a point, even if expressed in youthful bluntness. Her age cohorts around the table nodded sagely as if it were a great truth.
Reflecting on her younger years, we realized that we had a lot of fun with Santa. Even the year we knew she knew. I still remember tucking her in one cold night in December. She looked up at me and asked, “Mom, are you Santa?” I had done my best to be truthful, treat my kid with respect at every age, and offer sage wisdom during those developmental transitions. It took me a hot minute to gather my response as we stared at one another.
“Do you really want me to answer that question?”
She smiled and shook her head, “No.” Crisis averted, I kissed her goodnight. When I reached the kitchen, I did a silent jig. We were in the clear for one more magical year. Next December, we all happily played the Santa game. I do recall seeing a twinkle in her eye on Christmas morning. She knew she was playing and she was having fun. So were we.
I’m still the only one in the family who gets excited when NORAD announces “Santa was spotted flying over Zimbabwe!”
“He’s in Zimbabwe!”, I squeal. They tolerate me which is a new version of the game of magic, delight, and absolutely true and generous love.
I hope you can enter the magic during your holiday celebrations.
The world can always use more people who are happily and consciously sharing the joy of being together. One big messed up, beautiful human family celebrating all sorts of traditions. And embracing those who are struggling too much to even notice what’s good.
Sometimes hum bugging isn’t all it seems.
The Sacred Season of Light holds everything. Every joy and delight. Every tragedy and horror. Every delusional idea and each clear thought. When we are still enough, slow enough, and silent enough, we notice it all.
Life always shows us how to be a gift to each other in every moment.
Pay attention. Love generously. Receive graciously. Not because Cookie the Elf is watching or Santa is checking his nice and naughty list. Savor each moment because it is a wonder to be alive.
Slow your roll. Simplify your days. Stop the nonsense. Savor the Sacred. Embody the wonder of Santa.
I wish you peace. I hope you know you are loved or just choose to love yourself. I invite you to give a bit more of your self to others. They’re waiting for you. And, open your eyes so you play the magical, sacred game with joy.
I’m with you.
