This is the time of the year to have dreams of a more just and humane world. Dreams are the land of hope and Christmas is the perfect time to be a dreamer. This brings to my mind the lines from Imagine by John Lennon:
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Several years ago, I read an essay by Parker Palmer reminding me of the miracle of Christmas. As a child growing up in Northern Alberta, Christmas was a time of wonder. Christmas was not the neoliberal, market-driven affair of today. It was a time to re-member the deepest messages of the time of year.
Parker posted on Facebook about an experience in Nogales Mexico at a refuge for asylum seekers and pointed out Jesus was likely a person of colour born into the Jewish faith. In this sense, I understand Jesus’ birth as one transcending one particular faith.
Part of my academic journey this year was writing a potential chapter on nonviolent education. I read The Raft is Not the Shore, which was a conversation between Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan. They described how They, the Buddhist monk, engaged in communion and how the Jesuit priest reveled in learning more about Buddhism. In our polarized and divided world, this type ecumenism and communion (entering into intimate relationship with each other) with each other has fallen by the wayside.
I wrote the following poem several years ago and am drawn back to it. I hope it captures Christmas in a way that reaches out and touches what we share in common with each other: our humanness and journey seeking refuge at various times
Carpenter guiding,
Expectant mother riding,
Backs straight; heads high–
Donkey serving as regal carriage.
Seeking refuge in 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 and courage,
Our turn to humbly receive gifts,
Restocking spirits,
Rejuvenating souls.
For several years, Kathy and I attended concerts by Canadian singer and actor Tom Jackson. The proceeds went to support local food banks and we took something extra with us to share.
He sings a beautiful version of Huron Carole, which points to the ecumenical and communal nature of Christmas. It echoes Parker’s re-membering “the story, the music, the candlelight, the scent of pine, the silent night, the warm presence of family and friends.”
For me, Christmas is sharing time with family, friends, and expressing kindness to those who we don’t know. It is a 365 day process as opposed to a run up to a one day event.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 