The African-American holiday of Kwanzaa celebrates the principles of Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.
What principles would you celebrate if you were creating your own seven day holiday?
Face it, Santa can’t do it all on his own. He needs helpers, elves who can carry out all the details. Elves who cook for families or for the homeless shelter. Elves who listen carefully to the hopes of small children. Elves who make merry and elves who comfort. Elves who look for ways to help without even being asked. Yep, most of what we think of as Christmas is managed by elves.
Who are the special elves in your life?
For a precious moment, all is still. The children are finally asleep. Everything that needs to be assembled has taken on its proper form, and the mysterious extra screw is put away. Santa has, mysteriously, come and gone, along with a cookie and a carrot for the reindeer. Sleep in heavenly peace.
Do you have any special rituals for Christmas Eve?
When you’re inside a tunnel, the light at the end can appear as a blinding glare, concealing what you are approaching rather than revealing it. But you don’t need to know what is on the other side to know that you have to keep moving forward. You can’t stay in the tunnel.
What in your life feels like you are headed into the unknown?
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.
—Helen Keller
When have you found wonder in darkness or silence?
