by WUUC | Dec 1, 2016 | Minister Blog
‘Tis the season of gift giving. It is practically unavoidable. I have heard stories from those who lived through the Depression of how getting an orange (and only an orange) at Christmas was the gift of all gifts. I am not sure how an American child would respond to that sort of gift today. I remember friends who were Quakers who gave their twins one gift each at Christmas and no more. I was saying to Lori that you have to start that kind of thinking and level of expectation when children are very, very young. But then there are the grandparents and other relatives who see it as their duty and right to shower your children with gifts. It gets complicated, doesn’t it?
Rather than fight this gift giving, I offer the following to consider before buying holiday and for that matter, any gifts:
- Usefulness
- Made of sustainable materials?
- Sustainably made?
- Can return to the earth
- Handmade
- Needed
- Educational
- Can be refurbished or refashioned?
- Handed over to be cherished anew
- Handed down- carrying tradition
- No battery or outlet required to use
- Sends the child outdoors
- Allows for discovery
- Experiences rather than “things”
Or perhaps this formula for the holiday season: Give one gift that the child wants and one they need. Or a book, an article of clothing, and a food treat.
Take time during the 12 days of Christmas to do a thorough inventory of one’s things and adopt the discipline of giving away one thing a day for 12 days.
My hope for you in this next month is that you can keep the stress level low, expenditures low, and delight high by simply being in the “presence” of those whom you love.
Peace be with us all,
Rev. Lo
by WUUC | Oct 28, 2014 | Minister Blog
Click for November’s theme, GRATITUDE.
November. The theme: gratitude. It comes in all sizes. It need not be eloquent. It can be spoken or unspoken. Shared or kept quietly to one’s self. It can be written down or prayed or merely noted.
Maybe it is age but each day seems to bring about an ever-increasing attitude of gratitude. Even on days that are filled with an awareness of the gravity of our failing earth and failing humanity, gratitude cannot be crowded out. Each moment carrying within it the potential for gratitude.
Gratitude: for candles holding the light in a power outage. And for the absolute silence that accompanied the outage. For the fiery tips of the maple leaves. For the glimpse of the raptor riding the wind high above. For foraging for chanterelles. For the fullness of the rain’s return. For a feather found. For the hug requested by a 5 year old. For a night wrapped in flannel sheets and the woodstove’s warmth on my friends houseboat. For the tears I see on the faces of those in worship. And for the hands or arms of comfort offered. For the sure and steady return to health of those who have had health crises. For those who keep our world from total collapse through their faithfulness and discipline of meditation and prayer. For laughter and the chance to play and be silly. For poetry first thing in the morning. For what is created when a group gives itself to imagination. For the way the sanctuary holds both memories and possibilities when it sits “empty.” For a sense of Mystery. For a cold glass of water. For the nuzzling up of the dog on the couch. For warmth and shelter and food and clean water and a partner and employment and transportation and relative health and dear friends and family.
And you?
November. Tis the season- for gratitude…
Rev. Lo
