I think I have discovered why so many people dislike the holidays.
- It's not the chaos.
- It's not the over commercialization of the season.
- It's not the fruitcake or the lame gifts.
The reason is that this season is supposed
connect all people to MEANING, but it doesn't.
Disappointment is the pain of not experiencing meaning. It's disconnection. (think about this one)
Meaning is what we really want. Meaning is...
- why we travel and have big gatherings.
- why our religious traditions move to a more prominent spot.
- why we can't quite put our finger on
our disappointment.
We call our holiday nostalgia tradition. Nostalgia almost gets us to meaning-but not quite. Nostalgia reminds that most things are vapor.
Nostalgia exposes our yearning for love, but it doesn't give it. We just presuppose it's there.
I would like to offer a suggestion. Instead of nostalgia, focus on giving
love however you can.
Here is how you get meaning:
MEANING becomes FRESH when our life is experienced in the context of a bigger story. For example:
- The shopping, cooking & cleaning within the context of seeing a loved one for the last time.
- The white elephant gift within the context of the overdue apology.
The
baby in a manger story is not that fresh either.
However, the story says that the greatest power in the universe (Love) is not just some nebulous force out there somewhere.
This love is among us.
Within us.
Experienced by and through us.
The story becomes FRESH when it is EXPERIENCED. When the word (story) becomes flesh (experienced), we have meaning.
Love is personal. It's an action verb-its all about experience. The slightest experience of it, allows us to possess a bit of meaning.
We each need a fresh retelling of THE Love Story or life
is disappointing.
The story comes in various packages (traditions). In comes in various sizes (depth). It comes to us, and flows through us.
It's a gift to us, and its the gift of us.
Living within this flow is the essence of all spirituality. It's the essence of MEANING.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy
Holiday season.
k
