2020 Haiku

 

A year of chaos

Plague, fires, storms, floods, unrest, greed

Bye 2020

The Magic of Christmas

The night is still this Christmas Eve.  Christmas music is softly playing and the lights of our tree glow brightly.  There is something magical about this night.  It has always been that way for me.  When I was a child, Christmas Eve was exciting.  I could hardly wait for Santa’s arrival.  I could imagine the reindeer landing on our roof and Santa dropping down our chimney.  In the evening we would attend Christmas Eve services at our church and then we would drive around to look at Christmas lights.  Our last stop was a special place; people came from all around to see it.  Up the hill from our home was a fabulous Christmas display made by Sundar Shadi.  At the top of Mr. Shadi’s yard was a star shining above a small town, Bethlehem.  Closer to the sidewalk were shepherds with their sheep.  There was a fire where they warmed themselves.  In another direction were the wise men with their camels.  Christmas music softly played.  I had to imagine what was up ahead for them.  We couldn’t see Mary, Joseph, and the baby.  There was an air of anticipation and even mystery.  This scene was magical for me.

Long after I learned the truth about Santa, this Christmas scene still held its magic for me.  Its creator, Mr. Shadi, was an immigrant, not even a Christian.  He built this as a gift to the community.

This year our usual Christmas celebrations are cancelled because of the pandemic.  We are celebrating more simply.  Our pastor asked us what Christmas means to us.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  The truth is that we don’t know exactly when or where Jesus was born.  Of the four Gospels, two don’t even contain a birth narrative.  The other two, Luke and Matthew, tell two totally different stories; we tend to combine them.  What really happened?  We don’t know.  Does it matter?  I don’t think so.  It’s a mystery.

What does Christmas mean to me?  This year there is no celebrating with the family.  I can’t go to church but have to be content with an online service.  It’s quiet and I have time to think.  On Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby, an incredible gift to us.  This baby grew into a man who showed us what God looks like in human form.  He taught us how to live and how to love.

Christmas is about love.  This is a season of renewed hope, a season of joy.  When I read the Christmas stories in Luke and Matthew, I am filled with wonder, just as I was as a child looking at Mr. Shadi’s display.  Will we ever find the peace that fills us at Christmas?  Can we find hope in these difficult times?  Will the Kingdom of God be fulfilled?  How can Jesus be fully human and fully divine?  I have so many questions.  I don’t expect to know the answers in my lifetime.  A little mystery is okay.  It is what makes Christmas magical.

12/24/2020

My Blessing in Disguise

Every year my church publishes an Advent booklet of devotions written by church members.  This year the theme is "Blessings in Disguise" and the devotions are being shared on Facebook.  Today mine was posted so I am sharing it here.

People describe me as busy.  Although I am retired, I am accustomed to leaving the house nearly every day for various activities.  An extrovert, I enjoy seeing and interacting with people.  But all that changed in March.  As the coronavirus began to spread, activities and events were quickly cancelled and buildings were closed.  My calendar was covered with Wite-Out and we were sheltering at home.  What a change!

My husband, Bob, takes our dog for regular walks, often along the Boise River.  Occasionally I would join them, but I was too busy to join them frequently.  However, once the YMCA closed, I was concerned about getting enough exercise so I began to join them more often.  We are lucky to live just a mile from the Boise River.  It is an easy walk to the nature path that runs between the river and some lovely homes.

In March the trees and bushes were bare but this did allow for a good view of the river.  The weather was cool so we kept moving.  By the end of the month, a few leaves had begun to emerge.  I was excited to spot a lone daffodil in the middle of the brown.  I love to take photos so I began to bring my cell phone or sometimes one of my cameras.  I enjoyed sharing the photos on Facebook to bring some joy to others.  Once April arrived, I saw more greenery and lots of birds.  The flowering trees were delightful and their colors were even more intense in the sunlight.  One day I walked alone, just my camera and me.  I was able to slow down and really look at my surroundings—and I got some lovely photos.  On my way back down the path, I did a double take.  There was a Great Blue Heron sitting on a branch not far from me.  It seemed as if he was posing for me.  I also enjoyed watching the ducks floating down the river and resting on the banks.  I realized that the natural world has continued on as usual in the midst of our human pandemic.

Once summer arrived, there were fewer flowers but everything was a beautiful bright green.  The warmer weather caused us to slow down.  We would stop and sit on a chair, a bench, or even a rock and simply watch the river.  Our dog, Ginger, liked to walk into the water to cool off and get a drink.  While the river has a powerful energy, I also found it to have a calming effect on me.  Our summer walks tended to last longer.

During our fall walks we watched as the leaves turned yellow and fell to the ground.  My favorites were the reds and oranges.  Each walk was different as the season progressed.  I loved walking towards the end of the day.  The last bits of sunlight shone through the golden leaves and reflected off the water.  Those are some of my favorite photos.  It’s all about the light.

Winter is approaching, the leaves are all on the ground and the weather is wetter and colder.  There are fewer walks along the river.  I look forward to when our lives return to “normal,” whatever that is.  I know my life will never be quite the same.  For me, I think I will not be rushing around so much.  I think I will pause to appreciate what is around me.  And I know I will continue to take regular walks along the river.  What a blessing it is!