“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” — Ernest Hemingway
Often I find ‘Holiday Hoopla’ are the least spiritual days of a year. Or, maybe I should say of a life story. It seems blood family worship happens in the minds of many that are church goers. We worship ‘King Santa’. We adore ‘Elf Gift’. We sing praises to ‘Amazon Prime’ and kneel to the latest ‘Easy Clean’.
Past wounds fester with a contagious infection. While, new knocks are seen with blood running scabs. When we start the blame turkey game and stuff it with names , my kids, my Mom, my Dad even had the audacity to die? The parade to entertain must go on.
Did or does anyone say to us, “He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities. Surely He bore our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed. Or, are these words as tried as an old stick of gum or silly as a ball on a tree. It’s a lot more soothing to watch a feral kitten unwind our knitting ball or a wounded dog wear our winter wonder land shawl as the fire warms the sore. It only takes a spark of God’s love to get a fire going. That how it is with God’s love when we pass it on. 🎼🎹
“…It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” — Ernest Hemingway
I have been thinking on this quote and granted I’m on the older side rather than the new born side and I feel shame about many of my ‘Holiday Hoopla Shenanigans’.
Now, before you call me cynical or religious or out of touch let me just say I’m all in on Santa, reindeers, gifts, family and beer. (I don’t drink beer because I don’t like the taste neither do I like spinach) You name it, it’s all good. I’m in for fun. Now, about the details of how we live our lives that just might distinguish us from one another is the point. I made myself a little flash test to see how I score on details?
Spiritual Craft-who taught me spiritual craft-what does their life look like? Who is my now spiritual traveling companion-what does their life look like at this moment?
More specific to my life details-holiday Hooplas-do they separate me from my daily family, friends and communications? Do I live my life in a cage of fear and intimidation? In keeping my holidays real, do I treat others as I would/do treat Jesus? Does honesty and trust from my being sound like the thrill of hearing church bells chime on a chilly starry night? Welcome one and all. Or, does my family and I say to some, there is no room in our Inn, but if your desperate take the stinky stable. Leave the Eternal King in the stable and crown my kids as I teach them my way and not His?
O Holy Night the Stars are brightly shining, 🌠
