December 1st.

And so indeed, it has begun. Shimelle's class, Journal Your Christmas gave us this for our blogs and our books, should we wish to use it:


At the beginning of Get Organized for the Holidays, we were challenged to create our own vision statement. This was mine:

This time of year is all about celebrating Jesus's birth and the time leading up to it, peacefully, joyfully and calmly. We'll take the opportunity to express our love and appreciation for one another in everything we do.

Hmmm. Sounds very much like a dry Corporate Vision Statement.

I've been listening to Father Richard Rohr, and a series of lectures called "True Self, False Self."

What is Christmas?

It is that time of year when we celebrate the union of the divine with the flesh. That is what Jesus the Christ was: The creator and the created became one. It is also the celebration of a young woman's "yes." To paraphrase Rohr: God said, "Do you want the divine to come to Earth and show you itself?" Can I use you to do it? Will you let a miracle happen?"

And Mary said, "Yes."

So, my manifesto?

No. No manifesto.
A prayer. Let it be a prayer, instead:

Let the Divine come through me this month. Please use me, if You want. Let there be a miracle. Amen.

So, let there be cheer and lights and music. Let there be peace and joy and dancing. Let there be thanks and giving and kindness. Let there be love.