Dear Friends, It is 6:00 am on Sunday, Ded. 21. It is the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. It is a season of celebration as we all light candles against the dark. Today I start my sprint to Christmas, with five services in the next few days. Before I head off, I have something to say to my Christian brothers and sisters who feel offended when someone says, Happy Holidays! instead of Merry Christmas! My dear sisters and brothers in Christ...........RELAX!!!!! TAKE A BREATH!!!! No one is challenging your faith or trying to diminish your celebration of Christs birth! Nor is a mere holiday greeting an assault on Christianity. Our faith has survived thousands of years of threats that were far worse than a Happy Holidays. In our pluralistic society, people of good will are simply wishing you happiness and peace in a universally festive time of year. So let this one go. Smile and be glad, and return whatever greeting is correct for the occasion. Your faith will not suffer for it (- and it just might be strengthened). Sooooo...to my Jewish friends I say, Happy Hanukkah! May your candles burn bright against the darkness that is in the world, and remind ALL of us (Jew and Gentile) of Gods promise of peace and redemption! To my Christian friends I say, Merry Christmas! May Gods grace shine brightly as we welcome the birth of Christ. And to my spiritual-but-not-religious friends...to my Buddhist, Druid, Wicken, Pagan friends...and to all whom I love, who observe this season of light and joy in other ways, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! I am sending wishes of love and peace to all. Here are three gifts of music. I hope at least one will touch your heart and soul....and may they all make you smile. This is a season of good will and light. No matter what we believe, we can all be a beacon of love to each other. On this Winter Solstice, may we all be a source of light in a dark and dangerous world. I love you all. Peace. (Gotta run!.......) https://youtube/watch?v=P-Z3-mqU6PU https://youtube/watch?v=QJNhD3JJbrs https://youtube/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 11:17:10 +0000