In some cultures, we are still in the Christmas season. So with that thought I have the beginning of a favorite Christmas song for you.
Sing: Said the night wind little lamb, “Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky little lamb. Do you see what I see? A star, a star dancing in the night with a tail as big as a kite, with a tail as big as a kite.”
What would a dancing star look like? I don’t know, but I guarantee, that there would be some people who would explain it away, look it up on Google or simply NOT believe that it was real star. And there would be some people who would simply gaze at it and say, “How wonderful. Wow.”
Now the great thing about Christmas, is that it was a time of wonder and awe. Awe is so rare now-a-days. And the older we get, the more starved we are about with awe. For we become so overscheduled, over-tired, consumed with to-do lists, bulging inboxes . . . and we spend our time fighting fires at home, managing crisis at work and contemplating disasters in Washington, that we can easily get swallowed up by negativity and frustrations and we can get a fatigue of our soulfulness.
How do you know if your soulfulness is getting tired? When you have a hard time experiencing beauty, when you can’t find joy or when you stop seeing God’s blessings in your life.
Now the gospel has Jesus announcing that he will bring liberty to those feeling trapped, glad tidings to those hurting for money and a recovery of sight to the blind. I believe that Jesus is speaking literally about the poor, the captive and the blind . . . but also to us when we can’t make ends meet, feel trapped in our work or can’t see what is in front of us.
Remember the classic Christmas movie, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE? It always makes me cry.
Anyway, it’s a powerful lesson about NOT taking things for granted, even when things don’t seem so great. George Bailey has his eyes opened about what is important.
How can you get your eyes open?
Here’s some ideas:
Change your perspective. Drive a different route. Eat some new foods. Change your furniture around. Watch a different news program. This week I am going to the other side of the world. I am returning to Australia. I will be there for a week of retreat, then a week of relaxing. What I like about traveling is that it gives me a change of perspective on the world and myself. For you, what can you do differently to pull yourself out of the rut you might be feeling.
Next thing. Slow down. Allow some pauses in your day. This could be short little specks of time to take a deep breathe, to put your phone down, to look around your room, or look at the people in your life. Maybe the pauses can lead you to think a simple prayer of gratitude. Just simply to pause and think (even amidst the craziness) what you have to be thankful for.
Often we get so absorbed about what could be, or regrets about what happened, that we forget about what is. I find that there is a huge connection between a renewal of your soulfulness and your ability to be grateful.
Here’s a poem from one of my favorite writers . . . unknown
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
As Ezra and Nehemiah declared in the first reading. “Go ahead eat rich food and drink sweet drinks, but also give to those who have nothing. For today (and every day) is holy to our Lord. I say, “open your eyes, don’t take people or things for granted.” The reading continues, “Don’t be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength.”
Sing: “Do you see what I see?