Into the New Year

Taking Christmas 
into the New Year

Henry Van Dyke was truly "a man for all seasons."  He was a prolific author and composer; he wrote that well known story, The Fourth Wiseman, and the words to Beethoven's Ode to Joy.  He was also a skillful fly fisherman, which tops the list for some of us.

Not as well known, but just as poignant were his lines composed "Keeping Christmas." As we we leave the Season of Christmas behind, then why not take the Christmas spirit with us? 

 The rather lengthy list of attributes for the Christmas spirit boils down to his last line:

 Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world -- stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death -- 

and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem 

nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.   

And if you can keep it for a day, why not always?

Something Discovered this Year

What do the 12 Days of Christmas 

REALLY Stand for?

I have now had more years of Christmas than I care to count--and never did it click with me until now what the symbolism means for each day.  You would think that I would have picked that up some place.  As much as we sang it in grade-school, well, I guess they did not want to get into the meaning behind the lyrics.  Even the other night when I sang the song with the Washington Chorus, it was never explained.  All we were told is which verse to join in on! 

Do you suppose that there's alot of life in all of that--reciting a script but not knowing the meaning? Or, penetrating to the real meaning ourselves?  All I can say is that we journey through this life and we should do more than just stop to smell the roses--we should know something of what that moment, that rose, that time means for us.  Here's the list of the symbolism--now sing the song! 

• A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ
• Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments
• Three French Hens - The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity
• Four Calling/Collie Birds - Four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
• Five Golden Rings - First five books of the Old Testament
• Six Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God's rest on the seventh day
• Seven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Eight Maids-a-Milking - Eight Beatitudes
• Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Ten Lords-a-Leaping - Ten Commandments
• Eleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples

Forever Friendship

Home Alone 2
Lost in New York 
Friendship is Found!

There is something to remember from the Home Alone series. It has something more than bumblers--bandits, parents and a hotel staff.  Of course, there's Kevin McCallister, the madcap kid who emerges the wise one against the bumblers.

It's that Bird Woman of Central Park.  She may be the only adult in the movie as she dialogues with such honesty and openness with Kevin.  The dialogue is worth reading and remembering.  It also sets up the ending about friendship (or honest, open relationships) which is missing in the other characters. 

This is the Bird Lady in Central Park.  Her smile radiated deep emotion when Kevin gave her the gift of a turtle dove, and he kept the other to signify enduring friendship. 

Bird Lady: The man I loved fell out of love with me. That broke my heart. When the chance to be loved came along again, I ran away from it. I stopped trusting people.
Kevin McCallister: No offense, but that seems like sort of a dumb thing to do.
Bird Lady: I was afraid of getting my heart broken again. Sometimes you can trust a person, and then, when things are down, they forget about you.
Kevin McCallister: Maybe they're just too busy. Maybe they don't forget about you, but they forget to remember you. People don't mean to forget. My grandfather says if my head wasn't screwed on, I'd leave it on the school bus.
Bird Lady: I'm just afraid if I do trust someone, I'll get my heart broken.
Kevin McCallister: I understand. I had a nice pair of Rollerblades. I was afraid to wreck them, so I kept them in a box. Do you know what happened? I outgrew them. I never wore them outside. Only in my room a few times.
Bird Lady: A person's heart and feelings are very different than skates.
Kevin McCallister: They're kind of the same thing. If you won't use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my Rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose.
Bird Lady: Little truth in there somewhere.
Kevin McCallister: I think so. Your heart might still be broken, but it isn't gone. If it was gone, you wouldn't be so nice.
Bird Lady: Thank you. Do you know it's been a couple of years since I've talked to anybody?
Kevin McCallister: That's okay. You're good at it. You're not boring. You don't mumble or spit. You should do it more often. Just wear an outfit with no pigeon poop on it.
Bird Lady: I have been working very hard at keeping people away. I always think I'll have a lot of fun if I'm alone... but when I'm alone, it's not fun.
Kevin McCallister: I don't care how much people bug me, I'd rather be with someone than alone.

Kevin McCallister: Tell the birds I said goodbye.
Bird Lady: I will.
Kevin McCallister: If you need somebody to trust, it can be me. I won't forget to remember you.
Bird Lady: Don't make promises you can't keep.

 The Promise Kept....

Kevin returns Christmas Day and presents her with 2 turtle dove ornaments.  Then, he keeps one for himself and says that he anytime she is alone, just look at the dove and know you are remembered.

And Still Kept!

There is a wonderful link with this dialogue and what Jesus says at the end of Matthew's Gospel-- 

"Fear not for I am with you 

unto the end of the ages." 

New Year Stepping Stones

New Year Stepping Stones

I know of no other way to enter a Year Year...but by practicing the fine art of---looking back!  Walk a little, experience much, and reflect on it.  Look back.  The Native Americans traveled 3 days and then took one day to let their spirits catch up with them. .  I wrote this poem "Recognition" after leaping rocks and climbing hillsides in Maine.  Looking back to see where I had been gave me an inkling of who I am.  In fact, it was only until I looked back that I really appreciated the steps that I had taken to get there.   Keep a journal.  Record what you experience. Get a good look at yourself. 

 Recognition

I love to look back over my shoulder,

Or look down after the hike up the hill,

But most of all to jump between rocks

That stick out into the ocean…

       all of them,

lead to the right place to see where,

I came from, that rare moment to see,

myself before I started out. 

       Our lives

are made of short journeys with a gift,

the moment of recognition to look back,

and welcome the stranger on the trail. 

New Year Announced

New Year Takes Off! 

New Year Announced

The chickadee split the morning open

And frigid air came alive with his call,

that he could not wait for me to finish

hanging the feeder, but landed, fed and

officially declared the New Year begun.

We’re more complicated, aren’t we,

With our six million dollar crystal ball

That falls in Times Square, where

Thousands don’t know where to land,

Or what to feed on except each other?

Some do find the feeder that God sets

In the world at an altar rail, announcing

Time splitting past from present to make

The future new in bread and wine, that

Starts whenever we let him feed us.

Just for New Year's Eve

A Year Passes in a Second

Ringing in 2013!

In a second--one year passes into the next.  I will always remember that New Year's Eve that I could not make it up the road to celebrate the New Year with Eucharist at our Church.  I was lucky to make it across the room to the bathroom!  What I did recall was sitting in my living room (pot in hand) and watching the ball drop on TV into Times Square.  Then, I needed cold air and stepping outside on the porch, I hear the  church bell ring in the New Year--and as I knew, the priest was elevating and breaking the bread.  What a contrast--the ball drops in Times Square and the host is raised and broken in the mass.  One drops into madness.  One raises to Life eternal.  It is the sign that new life is found turning around our lives and going in a new direction--because we want it more than anything the world offers--the party that ends in one giant mess.  Or, the forever celebration of what God gives us. 

                                                                                     

Making the Journey

 

 c. Michael Podesta Graphics  Request a Catalog | 1-800-922-3595

 Meditation for 12 Days of Christmas

"If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things, if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the Shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us there is a desert to travel, a star to discover, and a being within ourselves to bring to life."

I love the graphic artistry of Michale Podesta--and this one in particular has a wonderful blue background that speaks of the ocean of life into which we journey.  The lighter we travel, the saying goes, the more chance we have of picking up God who comes as deftly as a hitch-hiker who we discover later is not so much of a random hiker after all. 

"Then Jesus went about among the villages teaching. ⁷He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics."   Mark 6: 6-9