A friend in Greenland ended her email today with these words: “God help us!” A reply from the United States to a FB post today, ended with these words: “God help us!”
I’ve heard that same cry from friends in the United States … Canada … Ukraine … Palestine … Israel … Uganda .. the Philippines and other parts of the world where I’ve been blessed by friendships that have evolved and flourished over time.
Today, more and more people are fearful — frightened that their country will be absorbed / conquered / bombed by another country … fearing that they might not return home from work, school, the hospital, the grocery store, church/synagogue/temple … terrified that their children will be abandoned/abducted because of ICE agents. More and more people are beginning to be afraid to leave their homes, fearful of even opening the front door.
Countries are asking for help … Reuters reports that Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada have begun deploying military personnel to Greenland at the invitation of Denmark. The deployed are fearful that this multinational movement, at this time “a symbolic and strategic show of unity following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex / conquer the territory” will escalate and they may never return home.
“God help us” people write – and pray – whisper. That phrase begs the question – “Is there a God?” And. if there is, “Why isn’t all of the chaos and evil stopped?”
I believe there is a God – not human-like that lives in the sky and dangles strings like a puppeteer making good things happen, bad things go away, but a God/Entity/Creator/Source/By-Whatever-Name, that created the world and humanity, giving human beings free will – to make decisions, to make mistakes, to learn and grow and become the very best person they can be.
I also believe in the existence of evil that can fester through greed and a hunger for power. That belief is tempered by a belief that evil is not as strong as is Goodness which happens each and every day in some way, in some place, through some human being, to some one or ones, directly or indirectly.
I believe in God – a God that works through people … like those who are blogging, protesting, speaking up and out; those who are peacefully resisting, calling their political leaders, helping others get to polling stations; those in positions of leadership (political, economic, media, education, business, etc.) who exercise that leadership from positions of integrity; those helping strangers or neighbours or friends in simple ways, in quiet ways, in gentle ways; those deployed in fragile countries and situations and are doing their jobs in accordance with the vows they took.
I believe that God is at work – through each of us.
And, while as much as I wish the works that continue to show me that God exists through each of us, I also wish they would result in tangible positive outcomes now (!). But, I am mindful that evil exists and that barriers are in place because those in powerful positions seek more money and power – for themselves. And so it takes longer for “God” to be seen working.
I believe it is happening and that we will see the results – – some day – some way – some how.
Do you believe that? If not, can you set semantics and God-language aside, and join in the hope that is in the goodness in some people who are quietly, gently, and sometimes loudly, in-your-face yet still legally “helping” – to make a difference?
History tells me that even in the darkest of times, God exists … through us. I look forward to change happening through God/us and bringing peace in this troubled world.
Laughter — it is SOOOO good for the body and soul. Sadly, there’s not been a lot of that these days. Politics … anger … fear … seem to have taken over.
Our soul needs regular doses of laughter!
When my Dutch-born husband, Hans, was alive, there was a lot of laughter in our home. Hans was a Renaissance man – knowledgeable, well read, great conversationalist, creative, linguist, could fix anything that needed fixing in the house/yard, and more. And his great sense of humour, delightfully contagious laugh and smile still bring a smile to my face as I remember. Today, laughter bubbled out of me when I reread this response to something I posted on social media the year before he died …
I wrote: “India Foxtrot Yankee Oscar Uniform Charlie Alpha November Uniform November Delta Echo Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha November Delta Tango Hotel India Sierra, Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alpha November Delta Papa Alpha Sierra Tango Echo Tango Oscar Yankee Oscar Uniform Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha Tango Uniform Sierra. “
And he replied …“Alfa November Delta Whiskey Hotel Alfa Tango India Sierra Tango Hotel India Sierra Alfa Lima Lima Alfa Bravo Oscar Uniform Tango Whiskey Hotel Alfa Tango Alfa Mike India Tango Oscar Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alfa November Delta Papa Alfa Sierra Tango Echo.”
I laughed then. And I laughed this morning when I saw this photo, as I remembered our online conversation … and him.
How I wish I had a recording of his voice – and his laugh! But, I don’t. I can “hear” both his voice and laughter in my head and heart, but oh how wonderful it would be to have actual recordings.
So often we think of taking photos of our partner/spouse, children, parents, siblings – at various ages/stages in their lives. I treasure the photos I have. But their voices??? It never crossed my mind to record their voices.
Gratefully, I have voice recordings of my son, but recordings of the voices of my parents, siblings, Hans? Not one. And now, that they’ve all died, I will never hear their voice again.
So, a gentle encouragement to you — if you don’t have recordings of the voice of your loved one(s), get started now. Record them reading to you … let them know what you’re doing and record a conversation … ask them to record a joke or a song or … whatever!
And record their laughter! 🙂 Your soul will thank you.
Just when we think the bottom has dropped out of decency, compassion, integrity, you-know-who sinks even lower and … he couldn’t care less.
His focus is acquisition — acquisition of lands, their natural resources, power, money. And if human beings are acquired for his purposes in the meantime (young men and women and their parents/families are living in fear of conscription happening) for him to acquire Greenland and whatever else he wants to possess and drain, it’s important to remember that he couldn’t care less.
American friends are ramping up enquiries to what possibilities there are for their sons/daughters to get citizenship in other countries based on grandparent/dual citizenship possibilities.
I loved Michelle Obama’s “when they go low, we go high” but … But what “high” can be achieved in today’s political turmoil and chaos?
Many say they have no hope. They’ve lost any hope they had. But in spite of the sense of hopelessness that many are feeling, I cannot – and will not give up hope … hope that the people will resist, resist, resist.
I cannot and will not give up hope that the people of the United States the people of Greenland the people of Canada the people of any other nation the hawk-in-the-White-House wants to acquire.
My word for this year is two words, not just one word. Two words that I’m putting into one hyphenated word … a paradox word that holds defiance and possibility together: DEFIANT-HOPE (resistance because of hope).
Around the middle of January a few years ago, our local hardware store was packing up all of the Christmas things they didn’t sell that year. Tucked into the corner was a little wooden white tree with lovely white branches. It had a really high price tag on it ($79.00!). No wonder no one bought it.
I was captivated by it and saw all sorts of possibilities of using it as a Light Tree which would be an excuse to hang lights on it during the Season of Epiphany (in the western world, it starts January 6th) to dispense the long winter nights and bring some light inside.
The tree was half price. That was still too expensive for me. The owner of the store happened to come by at the time and saw I was interested in it and asked “How about 1/2 of the 1/2 price?” …“Mmmm, that would be around $20”, I thought.
And then he said, “But I don’t have the box and it’ll take up too much time to pack it up and I’ll have to store it for a year, so how about $10?” Deal!
What a treasure! And it was already put together so I wouldn’t have to do that … and, it came with tiny white lights! So, I took it home and have been using it during the winter months each year since.
Along with the white lights, the now-named ‘Epiphany Light Tree’ has a variety of handmade Christmas “star” ornaments on it symbolizing the Light that came into the world, oh so very long ago. I also mark Epiphany with a Star Word. What’s that? A separate Soulistry reflection about was posted January 6th and can be read here: https://soulistry.com/star-word-for-epiphany
May you have a safe, wonder-filled (wonderful), healthy and blessed Season of Epiphany and winter with Light within you and around you. Let the Light in.
Long ago, it is said, that a star appeared in the sky – a star that was unlike any other. All were amazed – and perhaps, even the lambs.
Years and years ago, I made this banner for Epiphany, the Season of Light – which begins January 6th for many around the world.
The banner was made out of a black velvet-like fabric and white fabric paint was dabbed on the fabric to create the images. The black velvet-like fabric is fading, the lines of the star are still crooked but every year I take it out and hang it as a gentle reminder of a dreary, wintery weather’s day when I decided to try painting on black velvet-like fabric and the hope and peace that such a reminder of light in the Season of Epiphany brings.
I find Epiphany and its symbolism of ‘light’ to be helpful during the winter months of weather, the winter months of war, and the winter months of the soul, which so many around the world are dealing with these days as democracy is being threatened.
I hope you do, too, and that you bring light into your home in a variety of ways.
May light be within you. May light be around you. May light walk before you and walk behind you. May light envelope, embrace and sustain you and this world. And may the awe and wonder of the wee lambs as they gazed on the star – the Light – be instilled in the hearts of all so our world is a place of hope, lovingkindness and peace.
whether we welcome it … or not whether we dread it … or not whether we like it … or not the new year has opened and we begin again we must because we cannot give up because we cannot give in. Bring on the New Year! 2026!
Traditionally, in Christian liturgical tradition, Christmastide (The Season of Christmas) slowly developed … even before the early Middle Ages. By the fourth century, western Christianity had agreed that December 25th was the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ while eastern Christianity emphasized January 6th. Sometime in the medieval period in western Europe, especially in England, Christmas became a twelve day Season from December 25 to January 6th with both cultural celebration and religious observance marked by families getting together with feasting, entertainment, music, and gift-giving.
The song Twelve Days of Christmas (the song’s lyrics were first published in England in the late 18th century by unknown lyricist. The melody was arranged by English composer Frederic Austin in 1909. The song reflected the cultural context by referencing the calendar structure of Christmastide rather than serving as a theological explanation. Bottom lineL the “twelve days,” historically grounded in the Christian liturgical calendar, also reflect a secular time of celebration.
Over the centuries, many have tried various interpretations of the specific listing of the days in the 12 day Season: allegorical … romantic … educational … symbolic … Christian catechism interpretations assigning religious meaning to each gift … modern interpretations.
And that’s where “Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul” entered so on each of the days during the 12 Days of Christmas, a Reflection on one of the 12 Days of Christmas will be published to encourage consideration of how each of the days of Christmas can be applied to present day life by each of us.
The original song included these days:
A partridge in a pear tree
Two turtle doves
Three French hens
Four calling birds (often sung as “four colly birds” in older versions)
Whether marking the next 12 days as a religious tradition or religious belief, may the Christmas Season (all 12 Days!) be a blessing in ways none of us can imagine.
Let’s think possibilities!
May we enjoy each of the 12 Days of Christmas.
On each of the 12 days of Christmas – December 15 to January 5, a ‘Soulistry’ reflection will be posted here : … for reflection … for consideration … for a gentle and possibly new way to experience Christmas for 12 days, not just one day!
And then – on to the Season of Epiphany … the Season of Light. But for now, let’s focus on this Season: the Christmas Season. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
