It has been a couple of weeks since I posted and offer this poem.
Today, I read a short piece written by Parker Palmer that reminds me the miracle of Christmas is in the incarnation of God in human form. His essay reminds me of how, as a child growing up in Northern Alberta, Christmas provided a sense of wonder I could not explain and try not to as a rational adult.
Parker also posted on Facebook an event he experienced last year in Nogales Mexico at a house for asylum seekers. Asylum seekers is another way of saying they were seeking refuge. He points out Jesus was likely a person of colour. I take it one step further and point out he was a Jew and born into that faith. His birth was an ecunemical event, not a Christian one.
Carpenter guiding the way,
Expectant mother riding,
Backs straight; heads held high–
Donkey serving as regal carriage.
Seeking refuge from the night–
Giving birth in a stable,
Swathed and cradled in a manger,
Beasts welcoming the child.
Showering gifts upon us–
Returning each year,
Lighting the way–
Only asking, “Can you open your hearts?”
Source of strength,
Our turn to humbly receive gifts,
Restocking spirits,
Rejuvenating souls.
Kathy and I enjoyed Canadian Indigenous singer and actor Tom Jackson. Most years, he tours at this time of year and helps food banks. In the midst of Covid, we each have to find ways to share with those in need.
He does a lovely rendition of Huron Carole, which I share below. Again, this points to an ecunemical nature of Christmas, Christ’s Mass, echoing Parker’s remembrance of “the story, the music, the candlelight, the scent of pine, the silent night, the warm presence of family and friends.” For me, it was also the food and opening a present on Christmas Eve. The food included traditional French-Canadian tourtière (meat pie), which Kathy and I continue to share with our children and grandchildren.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Thank you Cindy
Merry Christmas! Beautiful song, thank you!
Thank you and Merry Christmas
Un Crăciun fericit alături de cei dragi sufletului!
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Merry Christmas my friend & a Happy New Year to you.
Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Merry Christmas, Yvon! 🎄
Thank you Bette. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Merry Christmas! Peace and good health to you & yours for now and for all through 2021.
Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thank you!
I noticed you had not posted. I remembered you always had something of interest to share with us. I like to hear and sing the traditional songs. But it is nice to listen to a new one.
Have a lovely Christmas with your family.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Thank you Edith. Have a lovely Christmas and wonderful New Year with you and yours.
I think Huron Carole is traditional in Canada, as it was written with Indigenous people in mind.
That is interesting. We sing/listen to many carols/songs. Yet we rarely know the stories behind them. Everything has a reason.
it does
Merry Christmas!
Thank you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Welcome, my friend!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/
Thank yo Patricia. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thanks, Ivon ~ヾ(＾∇＾)
Thank you GP. Santa does that extremely well. Take care and have a wonderful New Year with your loved ones.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Thank you Byung. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
A blessed Christmas to you and family… Happy 2021!
Thank you iris. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
And thank you too.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, as well.
Thank you 😊
Sending you all good things Ivon or you and your loved ones 🤍🕊💫hugs hedy
Thank you Hedy. Take care and have a wonderful 2021.
👍Excellent reading my friend!👌👍
Thank you. Take care and have a wonderful 2021.
The poem you share here about opening one’s hears and rejuvinating spirits is beautiful. I hope you had a nice Christmas, and all the best for 2021 🙂
Thank you Christy. We had a nice, quiet Christmas. I hope you had a nice one, as well, and wish you the best in 2021.
MANY PARTS OF THIS POST i AGREE WITH! THE BIRTH OF JESUS WAS PEIMARILY JEWISH EVENT,,,THAT JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND OTHERS HAVE DEBATED FDOR CENTURIES!~
Jesus was a likely a Jewish priest with Palestinian roots. He is recognized as a prophet in Jewish and Islamic faiths. Many Muslims hold his mother Mary in great esteem. He transcends religion.
I love the Gandhi quote: “I like your Christ, but not your Christians.” Gandhi signals a love of Jesus’ teachings, but, as my mother used to warm me, we are each fallible and tempted to read into those teachings things incompatible with them.
Take care and have a wonderful New Year Jonathan.
Nice one…merry christmas & happy new year ❤
Thank you. Have a wonderful 2021.
happy new year 2021 !
Thank you. Have a wonderful 2021
grazie !
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
WELL-DONE–GREAT POST, “TEACH”—!!!
Thank you Jonathan.
MOST WELCOME YOU ARE IVON!
I’m quite out of season, but I love the Huron Carole by Tom Jackson. Maggie
He does a lovely rendition. We have seen him multiple times live. He did an annual Christmas tour with proceeds and donations to local food banks.
The Ecumenical year is important to me, as well as celebrating each stage of the passing of the year. No, I am NOT a witch*. I do have Druids all up in the higher branches of the family tree.
*I sound defensive because so many churches I have visited or tried to take part in often say they have the REAL word and Ecumenical is a bad word and celebrating the passing of the year by bringing in rocks, seed pods, cool branches to enjoy is suspect behavior.
Lovely voice on the video.
I worked for decades in performance art then some as Artist in the Schools, decided I might as well get benefits then worked as a teacher. Health problems squashed all that. Drama is easy. (Crying on cue is easy). Comedy is hard. Teaching well is very hard. Well, it is hard if you care about what you are doing.
I agree. When one commits to doing something to the best of their ability, it is hard. Caring about what one does is essential to helping the next generation be better than we are/