A handmade Christmas card, black, reads "Rail Against the Darkness!"

[DeepModem Mom]

Maybe others who observe Christmas are feeling somehow that this is a Christmas with a strange feeling to it. I found I couldn't display some favorite old cards, with messages about joy, and light shining in the darkness. Then I received the most powerful message, in the form of a handmade card from a friend, a former Protestant minister, on black paper, its words on torn white paper. I wanted to share it with other DUers, because I think it is about what we all are trying to do, each in our own way:

"December marches inexorably toward darkness:
Winter Solstice, shorter days, less light.
Humankind has struggled through the ages to lessen the impact of the darkness:
candles, lights, parties, ceremonies imbued with meaning.
Likewise, darkness exists that cannot be attributed to the shortening of the days: those things we inflict on each other, and on ourselves.
You know the shortening days, you know your own context of darkness.
And so our season's wish for you is...

RAIL AGAINST THE DARKNESS!"


I'm listening to Handel's "Messiah" as I type, and I have another message to all here: "Comfort ye my people." May light come.

[liberalmuse]

1. I like it...

'Rail against the darkness'. We do that here at DU, and I'm sure, in our daily, non-internet lives.

It's weird, but almost everyone I talk to says it doesn't 'feel' like Christmas, and I agree. It seems to have a 'somberness' to it.

The light will come, and life will thrive again, as the pagans believed when they celebrated Winter Solstice. That's the beauty of this universe--nothing stays the same forever, and as long as just one of us has that spark of light and belief in us, the darkness is doomed.

[david_vincent]

3. Yup, this is definitely a weird Christmas

With one exception, everyone I know is doing worse this year than last. The one friend who's the exception had nowhere to go but up, since this time last year he was homeless. Now he has a roof over his head and a job that might even pay a living wage. But even he isn't celebrating - in fact, not a single person I know is in the Christmas spirit. At my home, for the first time ever we have no tree and no decorations or lights have been put up. People I know are crabby and complaining. It's a very strange year.

[Kanary]

2. A Creative Speaking Of The Truth!

I so envy people who have such imaginations as to bring the truth to life in such a way.

Thank you for sharing and also please see the lyrics to the Christmas song I posted. In much the same vein.

Kanary

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. An Advent Peace Psalm

O Prince of Peace,
whose advent we seek in out lives,
come this day and show us
how to beat our swords into ploughshares,
tools of life instead of instruments of fear.

May your love strip us naked
of all weapons and strategies of conquest,
which are not the tools of lovers,
wise ones and God's children.
Let us not lust for power
but rather strive for the insight
to be guided on the Way to Peace.

Let us not yearn for victory
that requires a sister's sorrow
or a brother's shamefaced defeat.
With tears, black suits and dresses
and tolling funeral bells,
let us attend life's victory parties
that are won at such a cost.

Let us be Advent adventurers and peacemakers,
hammering swords into shovels,
filling holes and leveling peaks.
Let us be disarmed and vulnerable,
for only through such open hands and hearts
can Emmanuel come.

[SharonAnn]

5. "Subvert the Dominant Paradigm" - bumper sticker I saw today

"Subvert the Dominant Paradigm"

Chuckle!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. "my karma ran over my dogma"...

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks to all for adding your own powerful words... (nt)