Longest Night

It's December 21st, the day of the longest night. It's a day that lands just a few days before Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus by gathering with our family and friends to exchange gifts, laughter and feast on too much food. Christmas is a busy busy time in the church and in my personal life. There is so much to prepare - church bulletins, special services, christmas hampers, shopping for family gifts, planning the meals and preparing my home with cleaning and decorating. So today is the day I just like to stop and just take some time to breathe. I usually attend the Longest Night evening church service and sit in the quiet and be thankful for all that I have. Its an evening where we meditate, light candles, shed tears for our losses and just breathe. It's what I feel we all need to do during this busy season. It's a way to practice self care and recharge oneself for the days to come. If we don't take the time to step back from all the busyiness in our lives and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas we totally miss out on the mystery and sacredness.

For many Christmas is the time when Santa comes and delivers presents, a tradtion that brings joy and magic into the lives of children and us adults as well. For me, Santa is one of the myths that brings magic into our children's lives and lets their imagination soar. I loved believing in Santa and playing Santa for my children and even though it was heart breaking to find out there is no real Santa Claus, I truly do believe that there is a little bit of Santa in all of us and I have always told my children this. 

The Stockings are hung awaiting Santa

Just as the magic of Santa brings mystery into our lives so does the little baby Jesus. It's the mystery and the sacredness in the birth of a baby that was born thousands of years ago, that has our hearts opened with love, our dreams filled with the hope of peace and our laughter ringing out as we rejoice with joy. It's mystical, it's magical and it's sacred and it allows us to wonder and to dream.


Tonight I will sit in the quiet, look back on this past year, rejoice in all that has been accomplished, shed tears for all those whose lives have been lost and those who are living among the horrors of war, and be thankful for all the gifts that have blessed my life, loving friends, a caring family, a new baby grandson, a place to call home, a future grandchild to soon join our family and so, so much more. Mostly though, tonight, I will sit quietly, reflect on life and just savour the moment. I will soak in the mystery and I will wonder at the beauty and wisdom of a little boy born so long ago who came and changed our world.

A Child Born long ago

It's the longest night, a night filled with darkness, but tomorrow we know the light will come, the sun will rise, as it always does and we will be thankful we took the time to breathe and be with the mystery of all of life.

" Be open to the flow of Divine Wisdom, Peace and Love that are part of your being, your soul. Be still, listen and believe the inner voice of God's loving assurance: "the light will dawn..." Adapted from Rev. Mary L. Kupferle