An Invitation to a New Beginning

Today is "supposed" to be the end of the world, according to some. For most of us, though, it has been "business as usual" with the extra tasks of preparing for Christmas thrown in for good measure. I can't say I've given the doomsayers much thought this season, in part because my mind has been too much on endings and beginnings in my own household.

My older son, Sam, completed his course in Toronto in mid-October, and now he and I are both back under the family roof full time. I am re-establishing routines that were interrupted by my frequent back and forth trips to visit him at his apartment. It's more of an adjustment for our family than most would think.

I got very used to my first thought of the day being "Which city am I in?" and then deciding from there what my daily priorities should be. It was all a very "seat of the pants" kind of lifestyle, and while I learned a lot about myself through embracing constant change, I am struggling now to get back into a familiar groove.

Todd got used to living in a very quiet household. When you conduct much of your business at the dining room table it can be challenging to go from having the house to yourself to having two, and then three extra bodies milling about, eating breakfast and lunch at all different hours and turning on the microwave when you're expecting a conference call any second.

Sam grew accustomed to navigating "the big city" and seeing new sights and talking to peers who had common interests. I know he must find "K-town" and the family pretty boring these days. He's developed a new skill set, but isn't sure how or where to use it yet.

With Dan's return to the family fold on November 27th, we all had to begin again. People change over the course of two years, and we are all getting acclimatized to being a family of four, together under one roof again.

I can only be grateful that these changes all occurred as the Christmas season was approaching - a time when the emphasis is on giving. Thus each member of the family has made the requisite sacrifices of time (to decorate the trees), of money (to dress the literally poor RM in some decent attire) and personal convenience (like relocating from the dining room when the mixer or blender are required to prepare the usual holiday goodies) without complaint. The approaching holidays have been a lovely distraction from all of our individual re-orientation struggles.

Likewise, the holidays have cushioned me from any concern about an apocalyptic end occurring today. If it were to happen, I'd fare better than I would ordinarily by sheer timing. After all, it's Christmastime, and I'm on my best behavior. I'm thinking more about the wants and needs of those around me than usual - buying gifts, sharing treats and generally being more charitable than is my norm.

It looks like we're all here for a bit longer at this point, so I propose that we look at this Christmas season as being a new beginning in our lives. Perhaps this Christmas we can somehow manage to carry more of that charitable feeling with us into the new year. Perhaps we can demonstrate the gratitude we feel for having so much in a world where so few even have enough. We can hold our children closer for those who have recently lost theirs. We can offer a smile to the disheartened and an ear to the troubled. We can try in small ways to make the world a lighter, brighter, kinder and more buoyant place.

And perhaps more than anything, we can remember the importance of beginnings, and one beginning in particular. In the absence of raining fireballs let's try to remember one significant star, and the new life that it symbolized. Merry Christmas to all of you, and may the new year bring peace and happiness.



Angelic Invitation (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - October '06)


A new star sets the world alight illuminating earth -
A Savior has been born tonight, come celebrate His birth.
Good shepherds look ye to the sky and quake ye not in fear -
make haste to listen and draw nigh, glad tidings thou shalt hear.

Fear not the strange light ye behold - it beckons unto thee
to witness prophecies foretold, go follow it and see.
A holy child is born this night, He is the promised one -
who'll lead us into Heaven's light for He is God's own son!

Fear not to leave thy flocks behind - thy watch I'll surely keep,
while in a stable thou shalt find the tiny babe asleep.
Go bow before this king of kings, leave Him thy lambs most fair -
a gift most perfect of all things that thou dost have to share.

For someday He will shepherd all who yearn for pastures sweet -
He'll rescue mankind from the fall and sinners from defeat.
Go worship Him this holy night, bear witness to His birth -
Sing praise aloud with all thy might - God's son is born on earth!

Angelic voices, ever near, call us to join His fold
and heed the chorus, sweet and clear, they sang in times of old.
Come celebrate the holy birth of our triumphant Lord -
who brought salvation to the earth and innocence restored.

This invitation they extend to all the sons of men
'til all heads bow and all knees bend when Christ returns again.
He will lead on to victory hearts who grant Him a place -
and heed the call to come and see the wonders of His grace.