Vigil candles in Notre-Dame de Paris
PHOTO: Mary van Balen
I like to celebrate Christmas—all 12 days of the season. So, while discarded Christmas trees line neighborhood sidewalks, mine still shines with white lights and carefully chosen ornaments. By the time you read this, Epiphany will have come and gone, and my tree will be back in the basement. But not yet.
This year I added a small book of daily readings to my holiday ritual: The Work of Christmas: The 12 Days of Christmas with Howard Thurman, by Bruce Epperly. It helped me reflect on Christmas well beyond the Advent struggle to keep mind and heart centered on God-with-us while busy with pre-Christmas preparations and dealing with holiday stress when the day finally arrived.
Christmas was especially enjoyable for me, filled with lots of family and company. Despite the activity, I made time each day to sit with this book. And when the holidays passed, family returned to their homes, and I returned to work, feelings of joy and hope that have been elusive, stirred in my heart.
2019 begins with dark days in our nation and in the world. Wars rage around the globe. Refugees, fleeing oppression and violence are being turned away from places once considered welcoming, including our country. Division, fear and anger abound. The environmental crisis of global warming threatens catastrophic change for people and living things that inhabit the earth. Even progress that has helped clean up air and water is being turned back, profits more important than health.
Not much had changed between December 25 and January 1. So, where was this sense of joy and hope coming from? Why the easy smile? Why did grace and beauty pop into my view more often?
I thought it had something to do with the book, so I sat with it again and began reading from the beginning, searching for particular words or phrases that might have awakened these feelings.
Perhaps it was looking at Christmas through the eyes of an African American theologian and mystic born in Florida who grew up in the south during the days of Jim Crow. A man who knew oppression and could empathize with the oppressed and marginalized people in today’s world.
Or maybe, I thought, the words that recognized beauty in the midst of darkness helped me to become more aware of the beauty that resides in the world today. I kept looking.
Suddenly, these words filled my mind, pushing everything else aside: You are not alone.
The Pilgrims of Emmaus by Maurice Denis 1895 Color Lithograph – Columbus Museum of Art
PHOTO: Mary van Balen
I closed the book. That was it. Experiencing that truth over the past two weeks had made the difference though I hadn’t realized it at the time. Whether reading examples from Thurman’s own life, reflecting on the Scripture passages chosen and reflections written by Epperly, or living it with my daughters, family, and friends, I experienced the Epiphany revelation: God is with us. Always has been. Always will be.
And that is source of my hope.
It doesn’t make everything easy. Thurman didn’t sentimentalize Christmas. When he spoke of light coming out of darkness, he knew what he was talking about. Still, he had hope. In “The Mood of Christmas,” he reminds us that “… good is more permanent than evil.”
Epperly’s reflections focused attention on the reality that Christmas is not only blessing but also work, as Thurman’s poem “Now the Work of Christmas Begins” expresses. It is God’s work that we are created to do. Each of us. In our own way. In our own time and place. With our own gifts.
We do it together, sustained by countless acts of love and creativity. We live in the river of Grace that has flowed through all people and creation since the beginning of time. And it flows still. We contribute to it by being faithful and sharing the particular Grace we have been given.
Trusting that, trusting that God, indeed, is with us, allows us not only to have courage to contribute to that river of life in dark times as well as in light, but also to enjoy beauty and goodness along the way. And to hope.
©2019 Mary van Balen
Originally appeared in The Catholic Times, January 13, 2019 with different title
If you are interested in learning more about Howard Thurman and his spirituality, consider registering for the Howard Thurman Retreat Day offered by the Shalem Institute. I took advantage of this online retreat last year and highly recommend it. Thurman has much to say to us and our times. Follow the link above for more information.
I’ve said it before and say again how very much I enjoy your columns, Mary. Thank you so much for sharing.
It’s always good to hear from you, Judy. Thanks for your comment. It’s good to know you are still enjoying the columns!
Mary I miss our talks, but your articles always brighten my day and give me food for thought. May God bless you and your family in this new year.
Fonda, I’m so glad you enjoy the columns. Blessings on you, your family, and this new year.
I am among those of us who are optimistic by nature -and that would include you, my friend- who are struggling more than ever before to remain positive in the midst of the current political amd cultural rancor in our country. It is inspiring that you shared that you too had to work a little harder to rekindle the hope and that you suceeded. Happy New Year to you and all of your readers.
Nancy, that’s for sharing your thoughts. As you say, this is indeed a difficult time to remain hopeful even for the more optimist among us! I think it’s good to know we are not alone in that struggle. It’s not that “misery loves company,” but that persistence in hope by one can bolster perseverance in another.
My brother and sister-in-law who are dedicating most of their time to the Columbus Crossing Borders Project are a source of inspiration for me.
It’s good to know so many of us are struggling, but also good to remember, as Mr. Rogers said, there are always helpers…people who are being tikkun olam – healers of the world – each in their own way. Bit by bit. Thank you for being one of those!
Hi Mary, just what most of us need as a new year begins – a reminder that we do not walk alone in this world. God is with us every step of the way. Thank you for another inspiring column. By the way, I loved the photo of the vigil lights taken in Paris. Will definitely show it to Joe when he gets here in 2 weeks. Stay warm and safe this weekend as I hear Columbus is getting more snow.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Karen. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that God walks with us and to remember that is often done though the companionship and friendship of others.
Glad you liked the photo. Hope Joe does, too. Our “big snowstorm” had turned into a long day of cold rain. Not unusual here as you know! disappointing for those of us who love snow.
Mary
I am proposing that in place of the word GRACE we speak of GOD’S FRIENDSHIP. It works well in your letter. I think we all should hear often your words about doing God’s work , each in one’s own way. Newman has a beautiful passage about this.
Thank you for your thoughts, Wilfred. I reread the post, substituting “Friendship” for “Grace” in this line: “We contribute to it by being faithful and sharing the particular Grace we have been given.”I can see how it works. We are sharing the Friendship that God has shared with us. And just as human friendships are unique, each of our friendships with God is particular to the individual.
What is Newman’s passage? Would you be willing to share it or a link to it?
Thanks again, Wilfred, for taking the time to comment.
Mary