For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14
By Steve Welch, Executive Director of Invite Welcome Connect
The time from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day is a time of intensive, almost pervasive activity centered around such things as food and family and holidays both religious and secular.
The Winter Solstice, when the North Pole reaches its maximum angle away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, has traditionally been a time of reflection and of celebration. I think humans feel the need to laugh in the face of the Winter darkness, to find hope by joining together with family and friends. So many cultures have solstice observations, from the Roman Saturnalia (which loans many of its traditions to Christmas), to Hannukah (a literal light that would not fail in the darkness), to the Hopi Indian celebration of Soyal, to Scandinavia’s St. Lucia’s Day, to Dong Zhi in China, and yes, the Christian seasons of Advent and Christmas, all bring family together to stand against the dark, to offer love and light and celebration in its place.
Here at the end of the first quarter of the 21st Century, though, there are so many without the close extended families that created those traditions. Families may even be the source of pain and trauma that they are supposed to shelter us from. Same with religion, which gives so much to so many, but has also been guilty of great damage, rejecting or abusing some who had looked to it for love and acceptance.
That’s why we see things like “Friendsgiving” gatherings or “Blue Christmas” services, events that recognize that sometimes, even in this time of love and togetherness, there are those on the outside who need more.
For whatever reason, many of us are alone. And being alone when it seems the whole world is coming together in love and closeness makes being alone even harder, more lonely.
And so in December, it’s more important than usual for those of us who have those family and friendship and church connections—those with love to spare—to share that love with our neighbors as well. I know time is tight, but make the extra effort to reach out to the quiet ones, the lonely ones, and tell them how much you value them. Be thoughtful. Be kind. There are so many people—churchgoers or not—who need that.
During the pandemic, I helped put together a “Longest Night” service for Trinity Cathedral in Trenton. Longest Night services—sometimes called “Blue Christmas”—are an acknowledgment that while many are receiving “glad tidings of great joy,” many others are grieving or alone. They offer prayers for healing and for connection.
I encourage you to attend a Longest Night service near you, whether you need to or not. The ones who need it most come seeking comfort and connection. From God, yes, but also from other people. From you. For them, that interaction with you may be the closest connection to God that they get all year. Welcome them as God welcomes you.
And if you’re one of the lonely ones, my advice is similar. Your church family is here for you. Go to the holiday party. Hop on the holiday Zoom. Talk with others in person or on social media. We love you, and we want to be there for you. But it’s not always easy to know who is in need of that extra love right now. I know how hard that can be, to take that step. Believe me, I do. Make yourself available. Reach out. We’re here. We love you.
To all of you reading this, I wish you the happiest Advent and Christmas season. May you stand against this Winter Solstice, surrounded by love and connection and the power of the coming King. And may you be blessed and full of joy.
Comments