Each one of us is not just the child in fear', but the light in the darkness
Kerstboodschap van Paul Ferrini.
Dear Friends,
This year the winter solstice brings us face to face with the conflict between love and fear. While deep unconditional love is always wide and deep enough to hold the fears of the wounded children of earth, conditional love seems barely sufficient to balance the forces of fear as we see them embodied in terrorism at home and abroad, and the aftermath of mass migrations from the 3rd world to the 1rst world.
Earth is fast becoming a more challenging place to be. Survival consciousness with the fear that feeds it dominates our collective consciousness. Only when we draw from the deepest reservoir of love and trust can we meet the challenges before us with courage, kindness and compassion. That, of course, is what we are asked to do. Not to lose faith, though faith seems very far away. Not to forget the light, though the darkness envelopes us.
It is not easy to be a light-bearer when the world goes dark. Sometimes only the memory of the light can get us through the cold dreary days of winter. Just yesterday in the northern hemisphere, we experienced the shortest day of the year. At the northern pole, the sun did not rise. Yet we know, though we often forget, that when darkness shrouds the northern lands, the sun burns bright in the southern latitudes. Perhaps that is earth’s way of reminding us that light never dies. At most it is hidden. Moreover, in the cyclical world, as the Taoists know, the darkest day of the year marks the beginning of the ascension to the brightest day. Opposites are not forever separated, but are always moving toward each other. Indeed, at the magical moment, the poles reverse. Dark becomes light. Up becomes down. Sadness becomes Joy.
For those who celebrate the birth of Christ, it is not surprising the Christ is born at the darkest time of the year. For he is the beacon who lights the way through the darkness, the one who embodies love, although all around him have given in to fear.
Christ, like other great spiritual teachers, calls us to become better, kinder and more compassionate human beings. He calls us to love the ones whom others reject. He calls us to bring peace and understanding where violence prevails. His message now, as before, is not an easy one to accept or to embody in our lives. Yet each year we take time in silence to ponder it.
Today there is much talk of war and retribution. It is not hard to become a champion of fear and to place the arguments and politics of fear on the altar. But Christ does not call us to fight violence with violence. He asks us to wrap our fears in the mantle of love and to go forth to serve the common good.
How will that look for me? How will it look for you? Will we hear the quiet voice within that calls us to forgiveness and redemption? Somewhere every day on earth, light is present to be celebrated. Gratitude for the gifts we have received can be expressed so that we are inspired to give in return.
Each one of us is not just the child in fear, but the light in the darkness. We are not just the angry mob, but the lone voice in the wilderness.
I send you my love and blessings for the holidays and the new year.
Paul Ferrini