Christmas Card

I'm not sure exactly why, but I've had a very difficult time writing a Christmas message this week. Perhaps the rigors of the difficult political climate we've endured over the last year, with so many people marginalized or blamed for our problems; or thoughts of the constant struggles of economic hardship for many families has finally caught up to me. Perhaps I'm feeling the numbness of sorrow mixed with outrage over the senseless deaths in Newtown just week ago that will surely mare the Christmas season for those families, and many others for years to come. Perhaps I'm just having a week when words don't come to me so easily as they do other weeks.

So I thought I'd just share a simple song of hope this Christmas season. I considered John Lennon's Christmas song: So This Is Christmas (War is Over). I decided not to share it because the video imagery is very difficult to see, particularly this week. Even though the message is good, the video contains many vivid images of child-victims of war and violence. Instead I selected another iconic John Lennon song: Imagine. It isn't a Christmas song per se, but it is a song of hope and speaks of imagining (maybe even creating) a more peaceful world.

Lennon was an artist in every sense of the word- a musician- a poet- and a dreamer. This year more than any in our recent past it might be good to devote this Christmas season to imagining a better world- and maybe doing some small thing to make it happen.

I will be spending a quiet, peaceful holiday with my family. They are the foundation in my life, and I hope all of you can say the same about your family. The best times of my life are the times  when we are all gathered together. Even though we do that often, Christmas is a special gathering and one we all enjoy most of all. All the best to you during the Holiday season.

Happy Holidays!
Thanks for looking in.