Whether you are Christian or not, Christmas can mean exactly what it meant when the early Christians co-opted it… I mean no offense. I was raised Christian, and I think of Jesus as an Enlightened Being, someone who taught, who held up the Light for us to see and understand what it is; and he lived what he taught.
It’s always been about Light in the Darkness, at the time of year (depending on where you live) that the days are short, and the darkness is looooong, and maybe it’s cold, too. But really, we seek that Light ALL YEAR ROUND. We need that little bit of LIGHT in the deep of night, metaphorically, and literally, all the time. But we developed our holidays around the seasons…
It’s HOPE we’re after, discernment, understanding… Hope that even when everything seems really scary or lonely, there is STILL HOPE for light, for love, for peace. Discernment about what to do when the shit comes down, and figuring out about how to be with others, especially those who are problematic to us in one way or another.
This isn’t just a Christian thing, of course. It’s always been the human condition to want Light in the darkness. The metaphor goes on and on. Because it’s REAL— it’s both physical and metaphysical. It’s part of our journey. And the human journey is echoed on and on and on, down the years and through the night, as metaphor, and as Truth. And it’s good to celebrate it— you don’t need religion for that, you can just do it any way you like. I love Christmas, because of all the symbolism, the lights, the gift-giving, the cheer… and eggnog— nom, nom, slurrrrp! ;)
That “Christ” is born is a metaphor for the light— enlightenment— being born in all of us. And it’s always being born, it’s alwaysimminent, if we’re paying attention. Sure, it can be Jesus, he’s cool; or it can be some other teacher, the Buddha, maybe. Or it can simply be a symbol of what is possible and imminent in us all. How do we convey this imminent Enlightenment? The “knowing” that comes to us in our darkness of ignorance or fear, or hatred? With ritual. With metaphor.
Christianity forced itself, via the Romans, into many of our cultures, but inside it, in the darkness of some of its rather bullying ways, is that Light. We find that Light in soooo many places, because it’s for all of us, all the time, whenever we’re able to perceive it. It’s a gift from our Creator. And that same Light is within all human beliefs and religions and ways of thinking and even just feeling, because it’s DIVINE light being given to us, however we are able to take it… Whatever form we “prefer.” It’s all good, as they say.
It’s Light that shows us the way. We only need to open our eyes, with deliberation, and intention, and we will find the Light within us, in our hearts, and not just with our eyes, we can feel it. It’s not so much Jesus BEING the light, but Jesus, and others, too, SHOWING US the light, modeling it for us, and the LIGHT shows us the path, and we see the footsteps of our teachers as we go along.
I think we love to have heroes to follow— it takes the pressure off (arf!). That’s fine. And when we’re ready, we become the hero, maybe a little bit at a time, we embrace the Christ within each of us, by opening our eyes and finding the Light ourselves. It’s always there. We all get there, sooner or later, and we join good company when we do. So Happy Birthday, Jesus (It’s most likely he was actually born in the Spring! The Christians had to co-opt that winter thing!! No worries.). Let your Light give us the means to find the Divine Light for ourselves.
You know, for dogs, every day is Christmas— just a chance for Walkies, or a treat, or a smile from our peeps... Embrace JOY. That’s the Doggish Way. Merry Christmas! And if you’re not really into that saying, then—
May the road rise up to meet you, and may the Light be bright on your path.
Tonight we HOWL for the Light of Jesus and EVERYONE ELSE, TOO. Looooove!
Rudog ! Have a wonderful return of the Light dear Dog ! I feel the same as you about Jesus, been raised catholic and dropped out of church at 14, went for a while coming to the States because I am in the bible belt, and 3 years ago for obvious reason, dropped off again. Now praying like you, with dog and cats in the woods. well usually ! today it was just too cold ! Bless you and bless all dogs.
So close to my thoughts on the subject. Dogs are the truth and the light. 😊
Rudog ! Have a wonderful return of the Light dear Dog ! I feel the same as you about Jesus, been raised catholic and dropped out of church at 14, went for a while coming to the States because I am in the bible belt, and 3 years ago for obvious reason, dropped off again. Now praying like you, with dog and cats in the woods. well usually ! today it was just too cold ! Bless you and bless all dogs.