Christmas calm

After a hectic but fun weekend of parties and socializing, we returned home from Seattle to our quiet house, turned on the Christmas tree lights and the Christmas music and just sat down. Outside the colors of the sunset dissolved into the velvet indigo of the blue hour while we sat in silence (light snoring from Mike) looking at the glittering tree and listening to the music produced over centuries of celebration. I felt calm and connected to the earth's withdrawal into winter. I read somewhere that ancient people would light torches during an eclipse to "save" the light that seemed so ominously to disappear, and I thought of our Christmas tree as a similar lantern, made to reassure us every year that darkness will not engulf us forever. In fact, its presence helps us see that the quiet darkness of this season is also a blessing and a gift. When the busy light of growing and doing has withdrawn we can more clearly sense the enfolding essence of life, which we call love and peace. I wish you all the peace, love and joy of Christmas.