Eastern Star
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future" - Paul Boese
This Monday morning comes with a sigh of relief with many major deadlines being met. I don't know about you but this December seemed especially full of demands that needed to be met by last Friday. With them met, this week is just full of wrapping up loose ends (literally) and preparing for the blessings of Christmas at weeks end.
In today's quote, forgiveness and living in an enlarged future are words that called out to me. It sounds refreshing as opposed to living in the sadness or bitterness of past disappointments, whether caused by people or life events. It brings with it the essence of a word that this time of year seems to radiate, if we have or take the time to see/feel it.
The word, the essence of what this season can bring is the feeling and simple happiness of having - hope. Hope for what is possible and can be. Sometimes it just takes a bit of realigning ourselves in our heart to make what once seemed impossible, in fact, very possible.
Last week while Ed and I were out with the dogs after dark there was the most beautiful star in the eastern sky. It flickered and glowed making movement, yet standing still. I wondered at first if it was an airplane heading towards Denver International Airport, way off in the east, but after watching it for a few minutes it became clear it was a star. It had a special effervescent quality that made it really beautiful. We watched it for a while in amazement and gratitude.
I love the thought of a star pulling us towards tomorrow's hopes and possibilities. Pulling us forward towards our individual destiny in this life. One thing is for sure - when we feel anger, sadness or bitterness about the "unfair" events of life it takes away so much from our lives. If focused on too much it can in fact take all forms of hope away. The inability to forgive ends up depleting us of so much. There was a quote I used in our family Christmas card this year from Dr. Robert Schuler who said, Let your hopes not your hurts shape your future.
Think if you were happy with everyone in your life just as they are and you are in this very moment. I don't know about you but the thought of it brings peace to my very soul. From political viewpoints to personal attitudes we can change all that is possible simply by our positive perspective. What if we used of the star to the east as the guiding light towards positive change.
Have fun with this thought...What if there were three wise men (or women for that matter) headed your way. What are the three gifts you would want for them to be bringing you this week that would give you complete peace by weeks end. Knowing that wise men can't bring gifts like the latest WII video game, what would the gift be for you, giving you the greatest hope for tomorrow? Give yourself a little time to think about that - then look towards that eastern star.
While I know this world can be full of hurts and disappointments, it can also be full of some real blessings as well. My hope for you this holiday season is that you find what you are looking for in your life. That you take this week ahead to enjoy the peace of the season. The peace each of us who has been to a shopping mall recently knows can't be found there.
I wish you a happy Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza season and see you on the other side of it!
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