This post is duplicated on both blogs today. [I did warn you this would be the case for a while although there will be some exceptions.]
Although it is nice to hang Christmas cards around the room, I have to confess I have stopped sending any although only since last year. In the past, it was a way of keeping in touch with people, especially friends I rarely get to see for one reason or another. I have never been one for writing letters, and, being partially deaf means I prefer to avoid making telephone calls unless it’s really necessary. Nowadays, though, it is easy to stay in touch by email or text.
Since Christmas as a religious festival means nothing to me, I decided to work on a Poem for Christmas, relating to the time of year rather than any religious significance, and email a copy to everyone on my mailing list instead. Some people have made it clear they would prefer a card, but I like to think a poem is more personal even if e-mail isn’t. Besides, I can think of better ways to spend my pension. Today’s poem is not the one I refer to, by the way, but I will post it here on Christmas Eve.
Meanwhile, the spirit of peace and love is not confined to Christianity, only its particular expression of it, and I see no reason why I should ignore it. None of my Christmas poems in the past have expressed the fundamentals of the religion it celebrates, only that same spirit common to all religions even if each arrive at it by different ways. As I have said so many times before, our differences, even religious ones, do not make us different, only human.
I couldn’t help noticing in days gone by that if I did not send a card to someone or they did not receive mine because it had gone astray, they did not send me one either. Fair enough, but it just goes to show that Christmas cards are often more about showing off how many we have received than any real thought that goes into sending them. Oh, I know people who love sending cards because it gets them into the Christmas spirit and that’s wonderful. Only, I do not count myself among them. It was always a chore for me. It was the feeling of keeping in touch and letting people know I was thinking of them that was the nice part.
As for the Christmas spirit, I have often wondered about that too. Comfort and joy, not to mention goodwill to all humankind in this much divided world of ours needs to last more than two days to mean anything.
Whatever, I guess we don’t need a reason, religious or otherwise, to celebrate life, love and peace. So here’s wishing everyone the best of all things wise and wonderful throughout December and way beyond.
COUNTING THE CARDS
Festive bells bringing
good news across this sorry Earth,
wringing comfort and joy
from all those needing to believe
in a godly saviour’s birth;
Oh, reason not the need,
they would have us all be sure,
but keep ourselves snug
by some cosy fire if only to feed
heat and light to despair
Winter solstice passed,
and now it’s the Christian’s turn
to answer questions
on flaws in natural laws exposed
by the origins of religion;
Little or no harm done
on days when Apollo joins the fight
to save the heart’s cockles
from faltering, till cash for its meter
runs out at dead of night
Early hours, shivering
and demanding answers of a God
inclined to turn a deaf ear
on material demands like how best
to keep out the cold;
where spiritual sustenance
always on hand, available in prayer,
even arthritic souls
obliged to get out of bed, trust they
won’t catch pneumonia
Spending on a charity card
to loved one, friend and neighbour;
best wish them well
on the mantel (for everyone to see)
than save for the meter
or if we meet in the street,
they will find a way to make clear
that mean-spiritedness
is not in keeping with the spread
of Christmas cheer
Where Christmas (or any) cards
a roll call for those who play a part
in our lives, big or small,
it should be those plainly missing
that strike mind and heart
hardest of all,
and to whom the spirit of human love
turns to help investigate
reasons behind any absences
before it’s too late
Conscience pricked about someone?
Try letter, email or telephone...
Copyright R. N. Taber 2011
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