Happy Holidays
So let’s name Lynchburg College as a community with some diversities of economic status, race, ethnicities, political views, sexual orientations…thousands of other things… and of faith and non-faith traditions. We may do well with our diversity on some days and not as well on other days. We have different comfort levels with some communities than with others. Most of us struggle daily with the concept of “us” and “them” regardless of which group we find ourselves among in any given discussion.
When we get to December it becomes even more difficult. I helped get a new Christmas tree for Drysdale, and since we are at a church-related college Christmas is alright…right? In my puritanical moments I think Christians “should” focus on Advent all the way until Christmas Eve, and work harder to avoid the great altar of consumerism. Hanukkah starts December 16th so let’s get a Menorah. Some are celebrating Kwanza this year on campus so shall we get a Kinara? Winter Solstice is coming too.
From Politically Correct Holiday Stories:
‘Twas the night before solstice and all through the co-op,
Not a creature was messing the calm status quo up.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
Dreaming of lentils and warm whole-grain breads.
We’d welcomed the winter that day after school,
by dancing and drumming and burning the Yule,
A more meaningful gesture to honor the planet
Than buying more trinkets for Mom or Aunt Janet,
Or choosing a tree just to murder and stump it
And dress it all up like a seasonal strumpet.
We try to be politically correct and not offend anyone, but if we try to do it all we do none of it well. I have come to value the commitment to welcome, providing safe space for difference, and conversation about differences. We must all celebrate our own traditions with integrity or there is no reason to celebrate them, but we must also allow space to let others celebrate (or not celebrate) with integrity. I value dialogue and relationships since that is where the true faith is lived out and the real joy of life is found.
As many of you in our community have a bit slower schedule over the next few weeks, I encourage you to expand your knowledge of another tradition, of another friend’s life and beliefs, or to make a new friend so that your life and our world become richer.
Christmas Blessings, may you know the Joy that I find in Christmas, see it in my life and trust another deeply enough to share your celebrations as well.
Blessings, Stephanie