Christmas Reflections
by
Rita H. Losee, ScD, RN
In November the American voter resoundingly spoke of a heartfelt desire to change the direction of the Iraq war. Since then, we have watched the cast of characters change slightly, leaders debate recommendations for change, and have been assured that leaders are genuinely invested in a resolution. Meanwhile the toll of death, destruction, and tragedy rises. Violence accelerates.
The Christian world is now engaged in the last frenetic, joyous preparations for the holiday honoring Christ’s birth. Many other traditions simultaneously celebrate at this season. We reach out to strangers and seek to ease their pain, we wrap presents in glittering paper and love, and we serve each other elaborate holiday goodies. Light and love sparkles in the darkness. In our hearts we seek true and lasting peace. We give ourselves permission to be thoughtful, loving, and generous.
I know President Bush and other world leaders are earnestly and honestly seeking the “right” solution. I know that in your hearts you are truly engaged in what you feel is a righteous cause. I know that you are troubled by the toll of human life and suffering that continued fighting is causing. I do believe that you honestly are seeking a means of peaceful resolution. I ask that you open your hearts to the only solution that offers us any hope of “peace on earth.”
As you kneel in reverence and love celebrating the birth of the One you call “Savior” and “Prince of Peace,” please reflect that 2000 years ago, he gave you the alternative that you seek as he spoke the words, “Love your enemies.” You see, we cannot ever, ever, ever, arrive at peace through the means of anger, fear, hatred, and war. What we give is what we get back. What we see is reflected back to us. What we perceive is what we receive. Let us all, no matter what our spiritual/religious traditions might be, see and be, love and peace.
I would ask that you consider Christ’s birth in the humility of the manger. The Being so many of us most celebrate as God’s true son came to us in the most humble of circumstances. Please hear the quiet message of the manger. It is ever so humbling for us to acknowledge that our approach isn’t working, that we’ve been mistaken in our judgments, and to say, “please forgive me” and “I am so sorry that I’ve caused you pain.” It is so very hard to extend love to those we feel have attacked us. As hard as it is, it is the way to peace.
As a species we have demonstrated over and over again that we can’t arrive at peace through war. The best we can do is arrive at a temporary cease fire which ends when the underlying molten reservoir of pain, anger, and retribution erupts once more into an explosive volcano of blood, body parts, hatred and despair that sweeps through the landscape of our lives, smothering all life in its path. The cycle of destructiveness begins again.
Perhaps your immediate reaction to my suggestion is, “We can’t do that. It’s too dangerous and besides, it will never work; those people are too dangerous. They hate us!” There is precedent for what I suggest. We can all reflect on Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela, all of whom opened up great space for love and peace when it would have been so easy to remain in violence, anger and hatred. They lived the word of Francis of Assisi, “Where there is hatred, let me sow peace.” They changed the trajectory of events and demonstrated the power of peace.
I have been very angry at the choices my leaders have made; engaging in this war I knew was futile. I’ve been guilty of arrogance as events of unfolded; after all, “I knew this is what would happen. It was so predictable.” I have been very angry at you and have withheld my love from you.
I ask that you forgive my anger. I extend my love to you. And I ask, no pray, that each of us reach a little deeper into our hearts as we celebrate this season of love and peace and extend love, peace, and blessings to all, especially those we would label as “enemy.” If I love you, you are no longer my enemy.
Peace and Love to all; what joyous words! Peace and love to all; can you imagine the incredible joy we would create if all six billion of us on the planet let go of our anger, fear, and pain and lived from peace and love? Perhaps we could all practice it for the Christmas season. We could, perhaps, let it ring in our New Year. Peace and love to all.
by
Rita H. Losee, ScD, RN
In November the American voter resoundingly spoke of a heartfelt desire to change the direction of the Iraq war. Since then, we have watched the cast of characters change slightly, leaders debate recommendations for change, and have been assured that leaders are genuinely invested in a resolution. Meanwhile the toll of death, destruction, and tragedy rises. Violence accelerates.
The Christian world is now engaged in the last frenetic, joyous preparations for the holiday honoring Christ’s birth. Many other traditions simultaneously celebrate at this season. We reach out to strangers and seek to ease their pain, we wrap presents in glittering paper and love, and we serve each other elaborate holiday goodies. Light and love sparkles in the darkness. In our hearts we seek true and lasting peace. We give ourselves permission to be thoughtful, loving, and generous.
I know President Bush and other world leaders are earnestly and honestly seeking the “right” solution. I know that in your hearts you are truly engaged in what you feel is a righteous cause. I know that you are troubled by the toll of human life and suffering that continued fighting is causing. I do believe that you honestly are seeking a means of peaceful resolution. I ask that you open your hearts to the only solution that offers us any hope of “peace on earth.”
As you kneel in reverence and love celebrating the birth of the One you call “Savior” and “Prince of Peace,” please reflect that 2000 years ago, he gave you the alternative that you seek as he spoke the words, “Love your enemies.” You see, we cannot ever, ever, ever, arrive at peace through the means of anger, fear, hatred, and war. What we give is what we get back. What we see is reflected back to us. What we perceive is what we receive. Let us all, no matter what our spiritual/religious traditions might be, see and be, love and peace.
I would ask that you consider Christ’s birth in the humility of the manger. The Being so many of us most celebrate as God’s true son came to us in the most humble of circumstances. Please hear the quiet message of the manger. It is ever so humbling for us to acknowledge that our approach isn’t working, that we’ve been mistaken in our judgments, and to say, “please forgive me” and “I am so sorry that I’ve caused you pain.” It is so very hard to extend love to those we feel have attacked us. As hard as it is, it is the way to peace.
As a species we have demonstrated over and over again that we can’t arrive at peace through war. The best we can do is arrive at a temporary cease fire which ends when the underlying molten reservoir of pain, anger, and retribution erupts once more into an explosive volcano of blood, body parts, hatred and despair that sweeps through the landscape of our lives, smothering all life in its path. The cycle of destructiveness begins again.
Perhaps your immediate reaction to my suggestion is, “We can’t do that. It’s too dangerous and besides, it will never work; those people are too dangerous. They hate us!” There is precedent for what I suggest. We can all reflect on Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela, all of whom opened up great space for love and peace when it would have been so easy to remain in violence, anger and hatred. They lived the word of Francis of Assisi, “Where there is hatred, let me sow peace.” They changed the trajectory of events and demonstrated the power of peace.
I have been very angry at the choices my leaders have made; engaging in this war I knew was futile. I’ve been guilty of arrogance as events of unfolded; after all, “I knew this is what would happen. It was so predictable.” I have been very angry at you and have withheld my love from you.
I ask that you forgive my anger. I extend my love to you. And I ask, no pray, that each of us reach a little deeper into our hearts as we celebrate this season of love and peace and extend love, peace, and blessings to all, especially those we would label as “enemy.” If I love you, you are no longer my enemy.
Peace and Love to all; what joyous words! Peace and love to all; can you imagine the incredible joy we would create if all six billion of us on the planet let go of our anger, fear, and pain and lived from peace and love? Perhaps we could all practice it for the Christmas season. We could, perhaps, let it ring in our New Year. Peace and love to all.
posted by Rita Losee, Woman of Adventure, Doctor of Success | 5:00 AM
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