Happy Holy-days

I don't understand why people are getting so uptight about people using the phrase,
'Happy Holidays'. I see nothing wrong with it. My Priest this morning gave a sermon on the objection to using this greeting instead of 'Merry Christmas'. I understand the objection to secularizing the Christmas season. I hate to say this, but duh....

How many people really observe the "Christmas" season according to the guidelines of the Church Calendar? In the Episcopal church the Christmas season doesn't start until Christmas Day. The four weeks preceding the Christmas season is called Advent. It is a time of preparation for the coming of the day we have decided to represent the birth of Jesus Christ. I think most people are aware that the exact date of his birth is questionable. Historians and astronomers have speculated that the accurate birth date is probably in the summer. The church however has designated December 25th to be the date we observe.

Is it a mistake for me to say 'Merry Christmas' to anyone before December 25th? I assume that would be like saying 'Happy Birthday' to someone during the month prior to their birthday. The more you think of it, the less meaningful 'Merry Christmas' is when used outside the context of the twelve days of Christmas. I think to say Happy Holy-days is a more appropriate way to encompass the Church season of Advent. I am not sure that I might not create a whole new term to cover the spiritual awareness and wishes of good will that we seem drawn to extend to each other during this time.

Major world religions of Islam and Judaism, along with Christianity have holy days during the winter months. This may go back to man's early history that seemed to be more in touch with the natural cycle of the earth. The time of shortest days in the northern hemisphere seemed to pull man inward into a natural darkness of the soul. A human response seemed to evoke a yearning for some type of real and spiritual light. This manifests itself in numerous celebrations in pagan, gnostic and early religions. Winter festivals emphasizing light and hope, rebirth and a new dawn permeate most religions.

As a Christian, what is my hope? How does this manifest itself in my life? I hope for a way to make a deep and meaningful connection with others. I want to feel I am more in control of my life. I want to feel there is a greater pride in my own growth and self responsibility. I want to feel love and companionship with the people in my life. I want to make Jesus manifest in my own understanding of what happens around me. I hope that somehow I can manifest and make real all of the things in my life that are very tangible in terms of spiritual awareness.

I wish all of you a blessed season of Holy Days and a wonderful manifestation of peace in your life and in the the lives of those you serve as a light of hope.

Prayer Shawl Instructions

For any of you knitters out there, this is a great pattern if you hae ever been interested in making a prayer shawl. Enjoy!


Prayer Shawl Instructions

I hope my obituary is this wonderful!

Doesn't this sound like a wonderful life?


The Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi's News Source

Jupiter

I have several favorite web cams that I visit nearly daily. This is one of them, the Webcam from Jupiter Florida.
http://evsjupiter.netfirms.com/main.htm
This location is just lovely. Great offshore salt water fishing and beautiful luxurious water. I have friends that live near here and I was raised about twenty miles from here. Florida is the home of my heart. I have lived for thirty years in a town that has never felt like home for me. I hope one day I can return there. I am really looking forward to the day when I can be free to travel and spend time in these old places and in the new places I have yet to discover. I know in some ways happiness is an inside job. That a place doesn't make you happy or unhappy. I do think however that certain places have different vibrations that are harmonious. I think this vibration actually attracts people with compatible energies. I also think that some people end up in places with conflicting energies. I don't know why I have stayed here. I think in many ways my life would have been so much better had I never come here. I think that by being in this culture I have deprived myself of meeting people of diversity and open minded thinkers. This is a conservative area with a certain clannish quality that always left me on the outside. I did a pretty incredible job of infiltration, but the price has been high. i am very pleased at the long term friendships I have made. I do feel I have some insights into a very difficult culture that most outsiders never perceive. I think that it has forced me to focus and hone my craft. I am much more skilled through the practice and I have great satisfaction in that. I know I have helped a tremendous number of people. I know that I am very valued. I have a great sense of worth due to this. Since i have been in this town I have married twice and had two major surgeries. I have gotten an advanced degree.

I also have thought many times, had I not come here I probably would be dead. There have been two occasions at least that due to a serendipitous sequence of events that I certainly would have been dead if the right people had not been in the right place at the right time. So I will continue with my wilderness experience a little while longer

Surprise!

I had a nice visit with some old friends. I went to a surprise birthday party in Tampa this past weekend. Very nice and it felt sooooo good to get away. New environment. Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Going to the flea market, celebrating. Having some conversations. Really nice to be appreciated. I realize how much I need some time with the right people. More later, got to prepare for work now.

As Classrooms Go Digital, Textbooks May Become History - NYTimes.com

As Classrooms Go Digital, Textbooks May Become History - NYTimes.com

This idea is very intersting. It has a lot of implications regarding the future. How could it change classrooms? The social structure and the culture of education? I predict big changes ahead.

Intoxication

I think intoxication with something is mandatory for a life of spirtitual awareness. I think that getting the altered state of consciousness is necessary to live a life of humility and love. I think that intoxication humbles one to be aware of the fragility of the state of consciousness that we are all addicted to. Revel in the capacity of intoxication to bring out our self righteousness into the awareness of how reality differs for all people. This is the essence of our need to escape reality. WE often fall into the illusion that our perception is the only perception. That our feelings are the only righteous feelings. there is no awareness of the need for a broader consciousness unless we actually experience it.