In Hong Kong, 圣诞快乐 (shèng dàn kuài lè) is the popular greeting
for the season, spoken as salutation, or plastered on walls. Sheng
dan jie literally means "happy birth of a saint holiday"; ye dan jie gets "Jesus"
phonetically in as "ye", (ye-su, like Iesu in Greek). Since we
focus on the day rather than the idolatry of Jesus, we will stick with our
title, something akin to the Felis
Nabidat/Felis Pasgua/Feliz Navidad/Feliz Pasqua in Chamorro/Spanish.
A verbal rehearsal that gets particularly loud in my corner between
Thanksgivanukkah and the calendared story of the journey of the infant child of
Bethlehem to Golgotha and on to the empty tomb - is the litany that follows, sentiment
and structure, images and metaphor adopted and inspired from the literary
eptitude of spirit warrior John P. Cock in his book, Motivation for the
Great Work, an embodiment of his
commitment to planet Earth.
Authentic living does not delivery what our
earnest desires strive for:
long life
good health
financial stability
a marriage that works
loving children
a nice house
a solid job
sweet dreams
no pain
a good education
kind in-laws
responsible
government
safe cities
comfortable taxes
good neighbors
cessation of wars
and the end of poverty.
Life's reality, for those who have eyes to see, is expressed
in the movie of the Von Trapp family in the Sound
of Music: when a door closes, somehow new windows opens. In the awareness of John Epps, Theology of Surprise, Exploring Life's Mysteries,
life is just too full of surprises. For those who dare to be free, and care to freely
be, life at every moment is a rebirth of wonders. Life offers:
unconditional love
in being regardless
healing of deep
wounds
arms to embrace the
fallen
faithfulness amid
faithlessness
grace nevertheless
peace that passes
understanding
a calling desired or
not
courage amidst fear
purpose when lost
mercy without being
asked
future beyond
impossible
balm for grief
unending
undeserved forgiveness
more freedom than one
can handle
welcome home mat with
open arms
resurrection in this
life
comfort in pain
refuge when storms rage
rest when weary
hope against hope
light in the dark of night
joy unspeakable....
The various phrases capture images of a journey of that
little babe in the manger in a season we call Christmas, narrated by gospel
writers Matthew and Luke, and appropriated as a liberating and freeing story by
many. I list myself among these folks,
albeit, more like the stable boy ready to rake the animal droppings rather than silk draped royals bringing myrrh, gold, and
frankincense.
For those who take their faith seriously, particularly those
of the Christian tradition, checkout The Love of History and
the Future of Christianity:
Toward a Manifesto for
a Next Christianity by Gene W.
Marshall in www.realisticliving.org.
In our hear-repeat opening ritual in school, I use the Chicago Westside Fifth City preschool ritual, a shorter version of the litany above. This season, I intone a version of the ritual thus: "this is the reality I have. I can gratefully, compassionately and
graciously live this life, or, waste it away, in resignation, fear, and despair.
This is the life I have." I live!
Still, again, and, ever more.
Whatever your situation is, you can, too. Shèng dàn kuài lè!
j'aime la vie