Thoughts on Holidays

 

by Rev. Amari Magdalena

As of 10am this morning, I've already been inundated with holiday and black Friday ads in the hundreds on all of my hotmail, yahoo, and gmail accounts. It got me thinking about consumerism and lost purpose of the Festivals of Light, seasonal hibernation, and the going within period that winter presents.

Listening to the Eagles "Life in the Fast Lane" yet again, I am seeing more and more the one-way trip most of us are on that in no way supports our spirits. I'm also remembering a Christmas that my late, great friend, Jonell and I shared with homeless families in Seattle. We did the unthinkable in American culture. No football or other entertainment from air waves was shared. We actually played games and all decorated Christmas cookies. We did have small gifts for the family members yet the emphasis was on simply sharing a loving meal, good company, and hearing their stories. This prompted me to write what follows.

From Diwali in Fall through January cultures have presented their version of returning Light during times of growing darkness. All cultures had such celebrations. Gatherings of family and community marked these special days. Emphasis was on collective experience and no self-gratification of receipt.

What if we restored Holy Days and eschewed Holidays? What if we lite candles, engaged in deep meditation, gifted our time or needed food instead of being guilt tripped into supporting the economy with gifts many cannot afford to give? What if we sat in silence for a while sending healing and peace thoughts to every corner of the planet and all sentient beings? What if we had family gatherings without TV and sports but activities that engaged everyone? What if we wrote letters and sent cards to people alone and far away? What if we honored humanity above consumerism?

Could we change the tenor and tempo of a culture that eats people up and spits them out without a thought of kindness, compassion, caring, or recognition that Oneness means like the word Namaste, I see the essential being in you and honor it? Could we begin to grasp what indigenous peoples have know since time out of mind, that ALL sentient beings are possessed of the same vital essence and are due our respect and honor?

What if? Imagine the light illumining our entire planet.

“The Joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing each other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” –

W. C. Jones