And so it is that time again...

       The spirit and proclamation of Dickens' Tiny Tim encapsulates the potency of this time of year.

        It's a season of tradition, celebration of light, spirituality, and festive celebration. The longest night has broken and for at least 5000 years we take note and undertake rituals.    

     Something we do at Light/Breezes is visit the twinkle shop.

        So we come to the nexus of these "happy holidays" of Christmas, a birth. 

        A boy born to an unmarried Hebrew couple in primitive conditions in a small and unimportant town was a birth that has changed the world for 2 thousand years.

    George Bernard Shaw wrote, "No nation has ever outlived the loss of its gods."

    The Abrahamic faiths on this planet are in trouble. Beset by fundamentalism, theological rifts, and loss of interest. Christians, Jews and Muslims can be their own worse enemy. The other beliefs and faiths on this planet suffer their own frailties. 

    Here, generations have come to learn Christmas means holiday commercials, decorations, merry making, a seasonal play list,  sweaters and all the rest. The illegitimate child of Bethlehem gets lost in the sweep. The tenets of his life of teaching, are rarely considered.

    

     Observant Christians, however, recall and celebrate the beginning of a life and ethic that would try to move the world to love, peace and joy. 

      There was a time when even those who did not observe or believe gave the notion a thought. 

      People of faith are a minority and the origin of this Christmas idea gets further marginalized each year and its ancient Gods become lost to the majority of a nation.

      Kay, an Irish friend, sent a Solstice link so I could watch the livestream of the sunrise at Bru na Boinne, or New Grange. 

      I have posted here of the 5000 year old transit tomb and archaeological wonder built with astronomical precision. Older than the Pyramids, and Stonehenge, Bru na Boinne could be the oldest building on the planet. Whatever other mystery it holds, it observes the return of the light.

    I had the privilege of being in the inner chamber and seeing extraordinary light activated symbols and inexplicable vision. I can't explain the palpable spirituality of the moment, but 5000 thousand years ago the civilization along the Boyne River was up to serious observant and faithful behavior. Humans seek understanding and connection. It is our nature. 

      Humans also have always been getting into deep and dark troubles where the future appears bleak. We work our way back by returning again to our beliefs.

      To those of you who seek to walk the path of the Prince of Peace, Emanuel, I wish you His peace and light. I share these thoughts from a friend who has spent her life in service to the faith. Look out to nature and see the face of the Divine. Look up to the stars and universe and see precision and science. Look inward and wonder where do we get power to reason and know?  Where do we get our sense of right and wrong? We cannot explain ourselves apart from the Divine.

       To all I wish happy holidays; comfort, peace, well-being and Good Will. 

See you down the trail.