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.
I love the word ‘epiphany.’Epiphanies are those “ah-hah!” moments in life when we suddenly ‘understand’ … ‘get it’ … ‘gain insight’ into the nature or meaning of something (or someone) we hadn’t grasped or understood previously.
Many around the world are celebrating the Season of Epiphany beginning today, January 6th. Its origin began long ago, when it is said that a star guided three Magi to travel great distance to pay homage to the baby Jesus.Not surprisingly, the image of a star is often seen as a metaphor for bringing light in the midst of darkness … a darkness of any kind: physical, emotional, spiritual, political, financial, vocational etc..
In the western and northern parts of the world, it is winter – a time of darkness. Throughout the world, with the growing rise of ‘strongman leaders’, the light of democracy is slowly being extinguished. Welcoming the Epiphany through images helps to bring light to ourselves.
I’ve been enjoying “light” since the beginning of the Season of Advent: …. Royal blue lights appeared four weeks before Christmas (for the Season of Advent). … Red and green lights were added for the Season of Christmas and its Twelve Days of Christmas. … And just before heading off to bed last night (Twelfth Night), the coloured lights were removed and white tiny lights for the Season of Epiphany took their place. In this part of the world, which is usually dark, rainy and gloomy, I find that this ‘tradition’ helps me dispel some of the dreary-weather and dreary-politics of the world.
What about you? How can you encourage Epiphany to make a difference in your life this year? Perhaps you could
… Choose aSTAR WORD to guide you in the coming year. During the Season of Epiphany, I choose a Star Word which I hope will guide me in some way to a transformative self-growth epiphany. Last year, my Star Word was the word “create.“ I wanted to *create* … create more Soulistry reflections … create special handmade cards for friends and shut-in’s … create change in my health … create more opportunities to play … create ways to bring light into the world around me in terms of kindness, compassion, social justice. This coming year, my Star Word is “open.” I want to be open to new friends, new experiences, new insights, new ways of be-ing.
As well, as coming up with your own Star Word, how about one/some of these things to bring light into your home/life during the Season of Epiphany – especially if you live in a part of the world where evenings and nights are dark. … Weave tiny white lights around your home as a gentle reminder to welcome the Light that comes into the world through ordinary people who bring kindness, caring, gentleness, peace, patience, goodness, compassion, love, hope. The tiny white lights encourage me to give thanks for the ‘bearers of light’ especially the ‘bearers of light’ in hospitals, care facilities, ambulances, paramedics, fire and police stations.
… Make handmade origami stars. They’re easy to make (YouTube has easy-to-follow videos), are a creative outlet, and simple to do. Over the years, as I have worked on and strung the paper stars in various places – across windows, across mirrors, suspended from leaves of large indoor plants. I invite them to be a metaphor that I be guided in making wise decisions.
… Light some white candles and bring light into the darkness of the winter evenings. I find this to be a gentle, simple and contemplative act that invites a gentle peace in my home and within my soul.
Think of ways you can be the light in the world around you by bringing the light of patience, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, thoughtfulness, goodness, compassion, kindness to others and yourself, so that work of Christmas doesn’t stop with Christmas.
As educator, theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman wrote: “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart.”
While the Season of Epiphany can last anywhere from 40 to 63 days (because the date of Easter changes each year), for however long the Season of Epiphany lasts, may it be a Season of Light in your life and this pandemic world, and in its own way, continue “the work of Christmas.” Happy Epiphany!
