Don’t Stop the Party!

I drove through the neighborhood the day after Christmas and, as usual, was dismayed to see Christmas trees, stripped and discarded on the curbs. “Don’t stop the party!” I call out. (This is a battle cry I have taken from some of my most alive friends.) But few seem to be listening.  I accept that, but I will not stop haranguing about celebrating the twelve days of Christmas. The celebrations can be quiet and small, and don’t have to include partridges in pear trees or five golden rings. Intentionality is required, however, and perseverance. Before you say “bah humbug,” read on about how I keep the party going.

 On the second day of Christmas, a sense of calmness settled in my soul as rain pounded on the roof. After two days of big family celebrations, I was happy to sit by my fireplace and gaze at the Nativity scene. I allowed my mind to wander and wonder about Christmas past, the meaning of the Incarnation. I re-read the book Nativities of the World and savored each beautiful photograph. I listened to the Christmas section of Handel’s Messiah, and ate a few Christmas cookies. Then I read the final chapters of the novel Euphoria by Lily King, one of my recent favorite novelists. I celebrated the love of reading, one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

On the third day of Christmas, I went to see the movie “Hamnet” with my daughters and a friend. We had all read the book by Maggie O’Farrell (another favorite author) and were eager to see how it was adapted. The story chronicles the impact of losing a child on a family, in this case, Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, who died of the plague when he was only twelve.  Both the film and the book pack a powerful emotional response.  Read the book first, is my advice! Afterward, we went out to dinner and dissected the whole movie over delicious Thai food. There is nothing like a great conversation with people you love! My heart was full when I returned to the quiet of my home. Celebrating around a table creates unforgettable sacramental moments.

On the fourth day of Christmas, I walked the entire Dana Point Harbor with one of my dearest friends, and we talked about Christmas, family, and the importance of spending time together. We drank hot chocolate, even though it was a glorious sixty-five degrees and sunny. Then we paid a visit to the beautiful Nativity scene at St. Edward the Confessor Church, where we both used to work. Although we see it every year, we fell silent before the life-size figures. In the background, sunbeams turned the ocean view into a sea of diamonds. The hush was holy and full of many sweet memories. Celebrating friendship, sans phones and distractions, deepens bonds of love and well-being.

As I age, I feel the sense of calm, peaceful celebration increasing. My spirit is much more receptive to the deep-down serenity that often eluded me during my busier years. Perhaps peace is merely an ideal we strive for our entire lives, and only catch fleeting moments when we are generative, busy, and restless for more. When we are privileged to live longer, time does not slow down; however, the ability to slip into the stillness is no longer another task on the to-do list. Time spent in contemplation opens the door to the timelessness of the Holy One, and to inner peace that can then be shared with all who grace our lives.

To be continued. . .