The Philippines starts early morning mass (missa de gallo, in celebration of the season ten days before the 25th), so, for the season and in your hearts, Merry Christmas! Sheng Dan Jie/Felis Pasgua In Hong Kong, 圣诞快乐 (shèng dàn kuài lè) is the popular greetingfor the season, spoken as salutation, or plastered on walls. Shengdan 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 wefocus on the day rather than the idolatry of Jesus, we will stick with ourtitle, something akin to the FelisNabidat/Felis Pasgua/Feliz Navidad/Feliz Pasqua in Chamorro/Spanish. A verbal rehearsal that gets particularly loud in my corner betweenThanksgivanukkah and the calendared story of the journey of the infant child ofBethlehem to Golgotha and on to the empty tomb - is the litany that follows, sentimentand structure, images and metaphor adopted and inspired from the literaryeptitude of spirit warrior John P. Cock in his book, Motivation for theGreat Work, an embodiment of hiscommitment to planet Earth. Authentic living does not delivery what ourearnest 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 responsiblegovernment 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 expressedin the movie of the Von Trapp family in the Soundof 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 freelybe, life at every moment is a rebirth of wonders. Life offers: unconditional love in being regardless healing of deepwounds arms to embrace thefallen faithfulness amidfaithlessness grace nevertheless peace that passesunderstanding a calling desired ornot courage amidst fear purpose when lost mercy without beingasked future beyondimpossible balm for griefunending undeserved forgiveness more freedom than onecan handle welcome home mat withopen arms resurrection in thislife 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 thatlittle babe in the manger in a season we call Christmas, narrated by gospelwriters Matthew and Luke, and appropriated as a liberating and freeing story bymany. 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, andfrankincense. For those who take their faith seriously, particularly thoseof the Christian tradition, checkout The Love of History andthe 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 andgraciously 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