Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Bright Elusive Flutterby

Well.

This is one challenging holiday season. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Here and there I've had the small flutters that come with preparations. That bit of joy and gratitude that comes from finding and affording a perfect gift for someone, the satisfaction and soul food that comes from doing good. These are nourishments to the Christmas Spirit. Not easily found, not easily held onto. A lot like a butterfly.

Then we have horrors going on. A madman kills 20 children a week and a half before Christmas. Wars continue. The ills of all the ages remain, unabated. Diseases strike. Hunger. Homelessness. Cruelty. Hatred and all its minions. And we ask, "Why?" with plaintive tones. There are no answers. It just is. Tough as it is to get through, we do. We cry, we rage, we point fingers, and we carry on living, in spite of all these terrible things.

And because of all those terrible things, we need the miracle of Christmas. We need it more than ever when things are awful.

This holiday season is harder than ever for many to make that miracle happen. But we can all help make it happen for somebody else. And the biggest secret is that in helping someone else have that miracle, it happens for us too.

Bill Murray said it so well in "Scrooged":



Go forth and make miracles, everyone, we can do this.

14 comments:

Geo. said...

God bless us everyone.

klahanie said...

Dear Laura,

And as the end of one of the most awful years, worldwide, draws to an end. Indeed, may the magic of Christmas immerse this beleaguered and oh so sad, planet.

Gary
x

Anonymous said...

Everyone doing just a little bit....adds up to a whole lot. We can make the miracle happen.

Elephant's Child said...

And people like you do your bit to create miracles not just at Christmas but all year. Thank you for all the hard work you have put into helping other people this year.
And yes, I firmly believe that the age of miracles is not dead, and depends on the little people. Inspiring post at a difficult time. Thank you.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

It's hard to accent the positive when the negative is so unbearably negative, isn't it? But we must. To dwell on the terrible gives it too much power, and could spiral us all so deeply into the abyss, we may never crawl back out again. So we keep on looking for the upbeat, the humorous, the good, and we cling to it like a security blanket. And we go on. But first, we grieve.

MoonRaven said...

I want to echo what others have said about each of us doing our part as well as appreciation for all you do.

This is such a clear, important post. The world is a horrible mess and unlikely to get better any time soon--which is all the more reason to keep working for miracles. Thank you for keep reminding us of this. It really is the spirit of the season.

Austan said...

Geo.- yes, no exceptions.

Austan said...

Gary- your keyboard to the god/desses' ears.
x

Austan said...

Lawless, yes, we can. We really can.

Austan said...

EC- and thank you for helping those right at the edge keep from falling. I hope we meet some day. You're always welcome at my door. Oh, and the boys said your check arrived and they're sending you a thank you note. Thank You from me too.

Austan said...

Exactly, Susan. The good is always there, too. Like the Whos said, "Christmas is within our grasp, long as we have hands to clasp."

Austan said...

Moony- you have a keen awareness of the potential for good in the world. Time we "plant our love and let it grow"? Yes.

Elephant's Child said...

I am thrilled that it has arrived. And thanks not necessary.

Austan said...

Your check put us over the top to $4,000. Thanks are definitely in order. :)