ADVENT CALENDAR December 4th - reflections on peace

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, a time to be with family and friends, a time of happiness.

Why then is this time so difficult for many of us?

We may be having economic problems.

We may be experiencing health issues.

We may be alone in a strange place.

This can truly weigh heavily upon us, and joy does not come easily to one who bears such a burden.

There are many people however who have none of these challenges in their lives. They live in a comfortable home. They have a family, good friends, money for reasonably good living and are healthy enough to go about their daily lives.

And yet, as the holidays approach, they are beset with dark thoughts. It is as though they become sadder and angrier, the more those around them are happy and joyful in their anticipation. They speak of the hypocrisy of people sweeping problems under the carpet and pretending the world is sweetness and light, of people pretending to be good while harboring violent thoughts and impulses.

Of course the world is not all sweetness and light. Of course each and every one of us harbors both within the soul:

light - - - and darkness

joy - - - and sadness

gentleness - - - and violence

peace - - - and war.

It is up to each one of us to choose. We may not think so, but this is what living on Earth is all about. We can choose light, not by denying the darkness within us but by deciding to search for the light. We can choose joy, not by denying the sadness which surely has a reason, but by focusing on what we can be joyful for. We can choose gentleness, not by pretending there is no violence in our thoughts and feelings but by transforming it consciously and never ceasing in this our personal struggle. If we do all this, we have chosen peace and not war.

May there be peace in your soul.

Now let's go check on those little doors...

Today we look for number 4:

Let's open it!

A mother knitting - what? You tell me!