O, Holy Night… or, the voices of my inner choir!

Grandmother Moon usually whispers. This morning she was singing!

She was singing in a voice I recognized instantly. Tevye. From Fiddler on the Roof!

Given the Jewish grandparents I’ve discovered in my lineage lately, I feel like Tevye might just be a relative. Feel free to hum along, while we chat a bit about tradition…

Let’s just say it was a big thing for my Mom.

I’ve only just lately realized that her passion for doing things the way we’ve always done it was a coping strategy for a young mom, far from home, with way more change going on than she found comfortable.

Let’s just say that I’m well schooled in the way we’ve always done it!!!

This year is feeling pretty different on the surface.

Airbnb far from home.

Lots of seafood… yum!!!

A handy volunteer Christmas tree with coloring book & red thread ornaments.

A shortage of stockings to hang by the chimney which is, btw, outside!

And, perhaps most scandalous of all, store-bought cookies… none of them fruitcake cookies… gasp!!!

All of that is true. And, there’s more to this story!

We have an abundance of love and laughter. Of family. And, HOPE! 

Which, if you get right down to it, isn’t so far from what Cousin Tevye was singing about!

It also feels really close to what that first Christmas must have felt like, all those years ago!

The times were hard – and scary – for far too many of the people.

Living traditions was often dangerous. And, still, people of faith followed the star.

Not to tell the whole world what to do and think forever.

Not to be the only way.

In fact, I suspect they had no clear notion about what would come of that journey when they set out!

And still, willingly, they followed the star.

The star of Hope. And Peace. And Love.

Was it a matter of Faith? And Courage? Yes!!!

Which brings another, rather unexpected, voice to our gathering… the voice of one of my chosen family: C. S. Lewis’ Puddleglum, speaking to the Dark Queen…

“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things — trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”

C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair, The Chronicles of Narnia

Here’s the thing, for me… Grandmother Moon and Tevye and Mom and Puddleglum, even with their differences in experience and perspective, all meant well. They were all about power-for rather than power-over. They all envisioned Hope. And Peace. And Love.

Which, when you get right down to it, is a pretty good vision to follow!

For this night, may the Grace of all you hold holy be and abide with you and with all those you love, now and forever.

ps… we’re having a party! A New Year’s Eve Eve party! And it wouldn’t be the same without you. Watch for details!!!