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Christmas time, 2012
Dec. 17th, 2012 03:38 pmIt's a sad time, this Christmas. I know many, many folks that are hurting, doubting, feeling less than the spirit of the season, never mind the reason for the season.
Even me, Pere Noel that I am, find it hard to pull from the depths of my being that ever-present 24/356 cheery spirit that carries goodwill to all and a merry Christmas in my heart.
It's hard, folks. And the older I get, the harder it becomes to find that spirit, that cup of eggnoggy cheer that lies beneath a crusty exterior. Kids killing kids, adults killing each other AND children. Hatred spewing and broken hearts that seem to NOT be able to mend. Jobs lost and lovers proving untrue. Death and dying and all sorts of misery that just doesn't seem to stop. Does it? Does it?
This is a magical season. This time of year is one that doesn't come but once a year. I wish, I wish, I wish it were true that it lasted all year long. When I was younger, not terribly long ago, I believed, in my heart of hearts, that it could. That I, if nobody else would, carry this feeling with me all the time. Now, I'm not so sure. I'd like to believe it's still possible.
So, I'm buckling my Santa belt, putting out decorations, baking baked good, and putting on my goofy happy face as best I can. I have Christmas tunes in the background and I'm about to post my Christmas story. I'm even thinking about writing a new one, something joyous and hopeful. I dunno kids. But I'll tell you what:
I have a special place in my heart for everyone of you that reads this. I hold that love is the greatest gift that separates us from everything else, and that love, Love, with a capital heart, is what will keep us afloat when all else seems lost. It is love that gives us hope, that causes us to look forward, with bright eyes, toward a future that isn't as sad and riddled with stress and strife as it appears right now.
For everyone of you that reads this, even those who may not believe it or care to believe it or want to believe it, we met for a reason. That reason, though cloudy at times, is simple. We're all in this together folks. I don't pick bad friends. I make mistakes and say stupid things and trip on my own metaphorical feet, but I don't pick bad friends.
In the dark of the soul, in the gloomy pitch of the night side cliff, you will always have me at your back, holding a candle or a torch or a flashlight. I will always spend the time to listen, even if it's to things that I don't want to hear. Sometimes especially to things I don't want to hear.
It's that time of year when my lonelies perk up and my sadness comes upon me. There is only one way to battle that. And that's to know that, regardless of our differences, regardless of the bruising of egos and feelings that, somehow our paths have parted, you, YOU are still in my world. And that makes me just a little stronger. A little better sort of me than I would have been without you. That makes me have a teary eyed Christmas knowing that among all the people on the planet, I have you in my world.
So, Merry Christmas! This is the season! You are NOT alone. You are NOT unloved. You are not without value and You are one of the most precious things in life. For without you... there would be no more candles to light my own dark.
Be of good cheer. For in this life, you have a present, a gift, a sparking shiny bauble to hang on the mantle of that fire in your heart. You have love.
Even me, Pere Noel that I am, find it hard to pull from the depths of my being that ever-present 24/356 cheery spirit that carries goodwill to all and a merry Christmas in my heart.
It's hard, folks. And the older I get, the harder it becomes to find that spirit, that cup of eggnoggy cheer that lies beneath a crusty exterior. Kids killing kids, adults killing each other AND children. Hatred spewing and broken hearts that seem to NOT be able to mend. Jobs lost and lovers proving untrue. Death and dying and all sorts of misery that just doesn't seem to stop. Does it? Does it?
This is a magical season. This time of year is one that doesn't come but once a year. I wish, I wish, I wish it were true that it lasted all year long. When I was younger, not terribly long ago, I believed, in my heart of hearts, that it could. That I, if nobody else would, carry this feeling with me all the time. Now, I'm not so sure. I'd like to believe it's still possible.
So, I'm buckling my Santa belt, putting out decorations, baking baked good, and putting on my goofy happy face as best I can. I have Christmas tunes in the background and I'm about to post my Christmas story. I'm even thinking about writing a new one, something joyous and hopeful. I dunno kids. But I'll tell you what:
I have a special place in my heart for everyone of you that reads this. I hold that love is the greatest gift that separates us from everything else, and that love, Love, with a capital heart, is what will keep us afloat when all else seems lost. It is love that gives us hope, that causes us to look forward, with bright eyes, toward a future that isn't as sad and riddled with stress and strife as it appears right now.
For everyone of you that reads this, even those who may not believe it or care to believe it or want to believe it, we met for a reason. That reason, though cloudy at times, is simple. We're all in this together folks. I don't pick bad friends. I make mistakes and say stupid things and trip on my own metaphorical feet, but I don't pick bad friends.
In the dark of the soul, in the gloomy pitch of the night side cliff, you will always have me at your back, holding a candle or a torch or a flashlight. I will always spend the time to listen, even if it's to things that I don't want to hear. Sometimes especially to things I don't want to hear.
It's that time of year when my lonelies perk up and my sadness comes upon me. There is only one way to battle that. And that's to know that, regardless of our differences, regardless of the bruising of egos and feelings that, somehow our paths have parted, you, YOU are still in my world. And that makes me just a little stronger. A little better sort of me than I would have been without you. That makes me have a teary eyed Christmas knowing that among all the people on the planet, I have you in my world.
So, Merry Christmas! This is the season! You are NOT alone. You are NOT unloved. You are not without value and You are one of the most precious things in life. For without you... there would be no more candles to light my own dark.
Be of good cheer. For in this life, you have a present, a gift, a sparking shiny bauble to hang on the mantle of that fire in your heart. You have love.
