Thinking Christmas...

As I head to the North Pole for Christmas, I thought I'd share a few Christmas messages...

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on Earth, good will to men!

William Shakespeare
At Christmas I no more desire a rose,
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;
But like of each thing that in season grows.

Martin Luther
Good news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven.

Helen Lowrie Marshall
The merry family gatherings –
The old, the very young;
The strangely lovely way they
Harmonize in carols sung.
For Christmas is tradition time
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all.

Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Peace.

'Tis the Season...

Christmas is less than two weeks away…

Fall has turned to winter and the temperature has dropped.
The bright colors of fall have morphed into mono shades of brown.
The weekday commute, for all intents and purposes, bookends the darkness of the night and the sunlight, when there is any, is as fleeting as the day is short.
I’m nursing a bad wing, dealing with the remnants of a fantastically horrible infection and seem to have about as much physical energy as an Everglades alligator trapped in the hot midday sun.
At least the gator is warm!
My suitcases, briefcases and various other pieces of checked baggage and allowable “carry-ons” still bear luggage tags --- MIA, PHX, CLT, DCA, etc.
They are the tangible reminders of the many miles I have traveled these last few weeks.
The cat’s litter box looks more like a hardened, concrete slab.
And, as nearly as I can figure, I have more deadlines looming than there are days remaining in the year.

Yet, as I sit and write, a full moon peeks through the skylight.
A brilliant beam cuts the air and casts a bright glow on the carpeted floor.
The full moon invites me to look out over the lake where I see the moonlight dancing with the wind and waves.
There isn’t a cloud in sight and the black night sky is dotted with an array of bedazzled stars.
I’d love to share the sight with the cat but she has taken evening residence on a computer bag and is sound asleep.
It is so peaceful that I cannot do anything but stop, look, listen and be.
Just be.

In this moment, late at night, I think to myself just maybe this is how we are supposed to feel at the holidays.
I think the season is more about what’s inside than outside.
It is more about feeling than doing.
It is about appreciation.
Somewhere between the dark of the night and the light of the day is the peace of the season.
It's really not dark, brown and cold, is it?
And resting with peace is hope.

Happy holidays.

A song for the seasons...