On this day, - November 20th, comes the first snowfall in dear magical Sackville.
And with this, upon coinciding with Midnight Madness - a night of shopping and friendly gallantry - we are pleasantly reminded that Christmas is just around the corner.
For some this means going home to family, for others it may mean the first Christmas of independance. Some celebrate with new babies, or new spouses. Some find it to be just another day, because they have no one to spend it with, or not enough money to share gifts.
It is for those I wish a happy Christmas to. The people who struggle each day to find food or a social connection with another need the magic of Christmas the most. It is for them that the holiday began, after all. Christ's birth was to provide for "the least of these" - and our sharing of wealth on the day of celebration should be in good spirits, not in spite; it should be friendly and not competitive. It should remind us all that we lead meaningful lives of equal value - or inspire those who never knew.
I live a comfortable life, even as a university student, because I was born into a family which not only was able to financially provide for my life and my education but because my family supports one another. I am so lucky to have people around me to challenge me and love me and support me.
Then, I remind myself it is selfish to harvest this love without giving it away. That is the toughest part. Fear of rejection, attachment, and pride get in the way and produce a shyness which does no one any good. I wish to challenge that fear this holiday season. I also - more importantly - challenge others to stand up against the fear in their path this Christmas. Not because every day isn't a good enough reason - but Christmas becomes a time when people slow down just a little bit, and begin to remember their humanity for just a second.
Love Actually says "Christmas is all around, and the feeling grows." Love is actually everywhere, and it is at Christmas that North America and other parts in celebration have some sort of communal understanding of the spirit in the air.
Why do we lose this awareness the rest of the time we are among each other? Is it too much of a burden for the 364 "real" days of the year? Does it get in the way of our lives?
In my opinion it is our "real" lives that get in the way of the Christmas feeling of warmth, companionship, and understanding which is possible all year long. In the understanding of Christmas we come to understand the feeling of Peace. In the recollection of family memories we come to be comforted by our privilege and joyfulness shared.
In this time of the year, I try to remember - and I urge anyone reading this to as well - to think of those less fortunate to have a support network of loving people. Try to remember the ones for whom Christmas can't come alive in a moment of hope, joy, peace, and love. Give something of yourself this upcoming month, and even year. Be a storyteller - be a friend - be a hand to hold for someone that needs it.
I don't want stuff this Christmas, my room(s) are too messy as it is. I don't need things other than rent, food, tuition - because that's my career I'm lucky enough to have. I wish many more the possibility to have this life in the future. Give wisely. Think critically about Christmas - it's not meant for the wealthy to remain wealthy. It's a humbling time of community when done right. It's for the poor to feel wealthy. It's for the poor to feel cared for.
Live carefully. Love all. Hope for a Peaceful day for the Earth.
Happy Christmas. <3
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, August 05, 2010
humbled by newness
Do you ever find you get stuck in a rut of pride? and it's near impossible to get out of that groove - meaning you irritate everyone around you while you try to convince them you're right?
Well, my realization of this has come over the past few months due to being back at home in Athabasca - where I know nearly everyone and am so wrapped up in the politics of my home United Church that I'm starting get stressed about it.
BUT last night when I went to Solomon's Porch - a new church with an Evengelical feel, but a social justice approach (aka my kind of church) - I was brought to my knees. It was not my home church, and yet the people whom I know there/run the church are welcoming and inviting so it feels like it could be (if i were not leaving in a few weeks to head back East). The thing is though - they are open about a lot of the issues they're facing personally, and with the church, and it is refreshing to hear that. Especially since it doesn't interfere with the flow of the church 'service' as it is.
Also, I didn't know everyone so I was humbled by the fact that I couldn't willy-nilly talk to anyone like they knew me, which forced me to recluse a little bit, and be - what i haven't been in a while - noticably socially awkward. :O
Oh well, I feel challenged on the surface because of that ... not to mention the message of the night- which was God's promises, and how humans often misinterpret them. :)
All around a good night. Came home, had a beer, wrote, went to sleep. :)
Well, my realization of this has come over the past few months due to being back at home in Athabasca - where I know nearly everyone and am so wrapped up in the politics of my home United Church that I'm starting get stressed about it.
BUT last night when I went to Solomon's Porch - a new church with an Evengelical feel, but a social justice approach (aka my kind of church) - I was brought to my knees. It was not my home church, and yet the people whom I know there/run the church are welcoming and inviting so it feels like it could be (if i were not leaving in a few weeks to head back East). The thing is though - they are open about a lot of the issues they're facing personally, and with the church, and it is refreshing to hear that. Especially since it doesn't interfere with the flow of the church 'service' as it is.
Also, I didn't know everyone so I was humbled by the fact that I couldn't willy-nilly talk to anyone like they knew me, which forced me to recluse a little bit, and be - what i haven't been in a while - noticably socially awkward. :O
Oh well, I feel challenged on the surface because of that ... not to mention the message of the night- which was God's promises, and how humans often misinterpret them. :)
All around a good night. Came home, had a beer, wrote, went to sleep. :)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Yearly update
kaljdsf;kauweio;rnasvioahf;lkeFA;HO2r9ae;lSDFKLMA;KJVAO;KLm.
THERE
wow that feels a bit better. :)
Ok, what's new? boys, housesitting, friend stress, a busy and ever speeding up world seems to be going by too fast on self-destruct mode.
also I'm tired so everything seems more dramatic.
do you ever feel like you get haunted by names? like you meet one person and then another, and maybe another... that have the same name?? I've had this happen multiple times, and by the second month or so it starts to really sink in how mannerisms and other crap like that are the same between the name-sharers. Take Peter for instance: well there's my boss Peter, and then Peter in res - who, yes I had an insane crush on (turned out to be more a friend-crush. wish I knew that at the time...). Not saying my feelings toward them are the same, but they're interested in very similar spiritual concepts, etc, and Peter W (res) seems like a bit like what Peter (boss) would have been like when he was young...
Example #2, within 2 weeks I met 2 boys named Geoff (spelled the same, said the same, etc...) - i have a fantastic long term opportunity to get to know Geoff (1, we'll say...) who will be in Sackville for the fall semester, and hanging around getting to know me. Geoff (2) is the recipient of my first kiss. he's a beautiful boy (atleast in looks) and we had the most romantic (at the time - perhaps sensual...?) night last weekend as we shared sleeping quarters, but haven't heard from him since. In this case I can't say mannerisms are the same...but I am still baffled that within two weeks I am RANDOMLY and quite serindipously introduced to both. SOMETHING MUST BE UP. GOD, are you doing this? whyyyyyy?
anyways, I just hope things continue to be this freakily coincidental, it keeps me on my toes.
Not much else is new, I'm housesitting and loving the new digs, and yesterday was a fantastic day of independance in the city for a work meeting. I am so lucky and blessed to have opportunities to be so close to friends and even jobs like at AU. i thank the universe for providing and keeping everything in cycle. though I am still searching for the true purpose of my life and for the universe as well. whyyyy are things so confusing: well, as Dan Mangan says: if all this were easy it wouldn't matter how it ends. :) words to live by, I'd say.
yet, ms. burns brought up an excellent point too, which i'm not sure if it contrasts or enhances Mangan's point "It's all SO easy." as a way to motivate and stay ahead.
anyways, fod for thought, and allows me to rant.
goodnight world.
<3
-Jude
THERE
wow that feels a bit better. :)
Ok, what's new? boys, housesitting, friend stress, a busy and ever speeding up world seems to be going by too fast on self-destruct mode.
also I'm tired so everything seems more dramatic.
do you ever feel like you get haunted by names? like you meet one person and then another, and maybe another... that have the same name?? I've had this happen multiple times, and by the second month or so it starts to really sink in how mannerisms and other crap like that are the same between the name-sharers. Take Peter for instance: well there's my boss Peter, and then Peter in res - who, yes I had an insane crush on (turned out to be more a friend-crush. wish I knew that at the time...). Not saying my feelings toward them are the same, but they're interested in very similar spiritual concepts, etc, and Peter W (res) seems like a bit like what Peter (boss) would have been like when he was young...
Example #2, within 2 weeks I met 2 boys named Geoff (spelled the same, said the same, etc...) - i have a fantastic long term opportunity to get to know Geoff (1, we'll say...) who will be in Sackville for the fall semester, and hanging around getting to know me. Geoff (2) is the recipient of my first kiss. he's a beautiful boy (atleast in looks) and we had the most romantic (at the time - perhaps sensual...?) night last weekend as we shared sleeping quarters, but haven't heard from him since. In this case I can't say mannerisms are the same...but I am still baffled that within two weeks I am RANDOMLY and quite serindipously introduced to both. SOMETHING MUST BE UP. GOD, are you doing this? whyyyyyy?
anyways, I just hope things continue to be this freakily coincidental, it keeps me on my toes.
Not much else is new, I'm housesitting and loving the new digs, and yesterday was a fantastic day of independance in the city for a work meeting. I am so lucky and blessed to have opportunities to be so close to friends and even jobs like at AU. i thank the universe for providing and keeping everything in cycle. though I am still searching for the true purpose of my life and for the universe as well. whyyyy are things so confusing: well, as Dan Mangan says: if all this were easy it wouldn't matter how it ends. :) words to live by, I'd say.
yet, ms. burns brought up an excellent point too, which i'm not sure if it contrasts or enhances Mangan's point "It's all SO easy." as a way to motivate and stay ahead.
anyways, fod for thought, and allows me to rant.
goodnight world.
<3
-Jude
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