Wearing my brother Greg’s flight jacket before dawn
Christmas and You
“And so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, and a new one just begun.” – John Lennon
Christmas is wondrous – for those filled with joy.
Christmas is delightful – for those living in the moment.
Christmas is inconvenient – for those feeling overwhelmed.
Christmas is sad – for those missing loved ones.
Christmas is depressing – for those feeling hopeless.
Christmas is so many things to so many people.
The celebration of holy birth of the Savior
The opportunity to gather with family and friends
The exchange of gifts
Christmas carols
Christmas cards
Christmas trees
Christmas lights
Christmas ornaments
Christmas egg nog
Christmas tamales (hey, I live in San Antonio)
But shouldn’t Christmas be more personal?
What if Christmas had an even deeper personal meaning in your life, your story, your journey?
Since the late-Eighties, I have studied the works of the late mythologist Joseph Campbell, who spent his life studying the world’s religions and folklore.
One of his key teachings was that during a holiday such as Christmas, we should internalize the story into our own lives.
Not just celebrate the holiday.
But live it.
Embody it.
Thus, since the Christmas miracle involves the birth of the divine into the flesh and the physical world, why not allow the birth of the divine into our bodies, our hearts, our souls?
On this Christmas
and every day…
May you feel, allow and increase the holiness that already exists inside of you and all around you.
And may you know
That every day
Every moment
Is a miracle.
Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker has passed away just before Christmas.
He wasn’t Elvis or Michael Jackson or John Lennon.
He wasn’t a superstar. But he was a star, nonetheless.
In my life, he was a transcendent musical force.
His voice and his music have been a part of my personal soundtrack since I begged my older sister Beth to take me to see his “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” documentary in 1971.
I was 10 and my sister was 16. She was going on a date to see the movie. Of course, she didn’t want to take her little brother on the date. Who would?
But I lobbied, begged, and cajoled Beth to take me on her date with Charlie Johnson ( 44 years later, I still remember his name ).
And because she’s never refused anything of her little brother, she took me along to see the movie at the Central Park Fox Theatre in San Antonio. I’m sure her date was thrilled to have me tagging along.
Sitting in the dark theatre, I was mesmerized by the film. Joe Cocker’s passionate, borderline spastic performance blew my 10-year-old mind.
I was hooked.
I got my hands on the “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” LP and listened to it again and again.
Joe Cocker’s heart, his soul, his beautifully unorthodox voice told me…
That if you sing from your heart, your message will resonate with those who should hear it.
We all have a song to sing.
Whether you’re actually singing or metaphorically singing.
If your voice is authentic, people will connect with it.
That’s my takeaway from Joe Cocker…
Sing your song, sing from your heart and the right people will get you.
Rest in Peace, Joe Cocker.
You made magic on Earth, Space Captain.
Thank you.
Winter Solstice
Do you feel it?
The moment darkness reaches its apex
And the bitter cold evokes your grief
While warmth, light and summer sun
Seem distant
You realize
The longer you live
And the seasons change
This frigid darkness
Is merely a fleeting precursor
To the return of the light
Through orbiting spheres
And the dance of all creation
Repeating itself
Again and again and again
After countless cold, dark winters
On this Winter Solstice
You choose to embrace the darkness
Knowing that this moment
Gives birth
To the light you need
