Night Before Christmas

I was with my friend Frank last night enjoying a cup of coffee in a cozy place in Killingworth and asked he join my family for Christmas Eve. He said he usually spent it alone, with candles and meditating on the sacredness of the time. I agree, December 24th has always held a magic for me too: preparations have come to a head, gifts are wrapped, Christmas shows and songs have been duly hammered into my consciousness once again.  Something about the deep, blue night cloaking everything in the loving mystery that is Christmas.

I've been reading Buddhist philosophy, meditating some each day. Buddhism speaks of our connectedness with all living things, that we each hold a sacred spark within us that binds us together. That our path here in this life is to re-awaken to our loving, spiritual natures. To me, the story of Jesus is similar in that it reminds us our Creator exists, that LOVE was behind Him sending his Son to our world to remind us we are never alone, we are loved and we should love ourselves as He does. Christmas is about HOPE.  We want to know we belong to something bigger than ourselves.  We deeply want to fall into our loving natures, away from fears that bring selfishness, spite and anger to our lives that take us away from love, joy, compassion and acceptance.

I heard an old Bible song sung by a choir last night entitled, This Little Light if Mine" and it touched me. It told me of my light, that I can CHOOSE to let it shine. I will! Perhaps you will like the lyrics too:

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
Let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
Let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna

Let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

[Chorus]

I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

[Chorus]

Every day, every day, I'm going to let my little light
Shine.

I wish all people great peace and knowing they are loved and loving. I ask for wisdom and courage to believe in myself as others do.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Sacred, loving life!