It all began with a Winter Solstice. December 21st marked the shortest day of the year, and humans of the ancient world celebrated the return of the light the following day. When religions began to form, there were other celebrations of light. And when the Christians hit the scene, they made it into an allegory. Not knowing the actual date of their savior Jesus Christ, they deemed it to be December 25th—when the Light came into the world.
Today, those beginnings are long forgotten as people sit in airports waiting for planes to de-ice and families pack up their children and drive from one relative’s house to another to say hello, eat a meal and share a moment. Commerce spikes as people have a reason to give gifts to those they love. People pile into their churches that they may very well have abandoned the rest of the year to hear the tale of their savior, or the story of the return of the Light into the world.
For me, personally, Christmas is about being with family and going to church. But it’s not the Norman Rockwell picture that I grew up with. My family is my canine kid, and waking up with him every morning is like waking up to the best Christmas present beside me.
Today, those beginnings are long forgotten as people sit in airports waiting for planes to de-ice and families pack up their children and drive from one relative’s house to another to say hello, eat a meal and share a moment. Commerce spikes as people have a reason to give gifts to those they love. People pile into their churches that they may very well have abandoned the rest of the year to hear the tale of their savior, or the story of the return of the Light into the world.
For me, personally, Christmas is about being with family and going to church. But it’s not the Norman Rockwell picture that I grew up with. My family is my canine kid, and waking up with him every morning is like waking up to the best Christmas present beside me.
My Church doesn’t haven’t an address. It doesn’t hold services, and the sermon isn’t a twenty minute speech. My Church is Nature where the door is always open, and the sermon is in the birdsong. Tucker and I are avid church-goers. We don’t go just on holidays. But we try to make those holiday attendances a bit more special.
Our Christmas Church this year was Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. Although we live at the top of the hill, I took my landlady’s advice and drove to the bottom to begin our journey. A hike is a story. It begins with a slow ascent, and as you become attached to the characters and scenery around you, you become invested. So when you finally reach the climax and look back at all you’ve accomplished, the story becomes even more poignant and stunning.
Our Christmas Church this year was Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. Although we live at the top of the hill, I took my landlady’s advice and drove to the bottom to begin our journey. A hike is a story. It begins with a slow ascent, and as you become attached to the characters and scenery around you, you become invested. So when you finally reach the climax and look back at all you’ve accomplished, the story becomes even more poignant and stunning.
Tucker enjoys the view - and the break from climbing uphill.
Windy Hill is the most diverse Church we’ve spent a day worshiping in. We climbed westward and just before the peak, turned to face the Bay to offer our reverence. Then as we crested the hill, we looked westward, and our gaze fell upon the Pacific Ocean and its vast limitless potential.
On the way back down the mountain, we admired the details, for although it's a big life, we live life in the details. A balanced life is one spent equally admiring the past, gazing into the future, and living in the present.
The downward path led us through the forest, canopied with century-old trees.
Near the end of the path, a babbling brook offered us refreshment.
After Church, Tucker took a short nap in his favorite spot: in front of the wall heater.
He needed to regain his energy after our 7 mile church service so he could open gifts. No tree this year, but I never feel it’s right that a tree should lose its life just so we humans can feel closer to nature for a day. So instead, our gifts sat atop the mantel, the ornaments were fitting, and given to me by a friend:
Tucker rose from his short nap, ready to experience the joy of unwrapping his Christmas gifts.
Tucker loved all his gifts, and there’s still a few left for him to unwrap.
But that’s okay, because for us, Christmas isn’t just on December 25th every year. I get to wake up next to my best friend and canine partner every day. We go to our Church every chance we get. Tucker gets new toys as his old ones get broken, or when I see one I think he’ll enjoy. Gifts aren’t just bought and given in December.
And the greatest gift - being with family, being with each other - is what Tucker and I are blessed with every day. Our family is larger than just the two of us, and through the magic of technology we can visit with them as often as we’d like. The geographical locations Tucker and I call “home” changes month to month and year to year, but Home isn’t a place to us. Home is each other, which means that wherever we are, we are always Home for the Holidays.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Best Wishes on this Winter Solstice. Celebrate the Light coming back into the world, and may you all be blessed to be Home for Holidays.
And the greatest gift - being with family, being with each other - is what Tucker and I are blessed with every day. Our family is larger than just the two of us, and through the magic of technology we can visit with them as often as we’d like. The geographical locations Tucker and I call “home” changes month to month and year to year, but Home isn’t a place to us. Home is each other, which means that wherever we are, we are always Home for the Holidays.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Best Wishes on this Winter Solstice. Celebrate the Light coming back into the world, and may you all be blessed to be Home for Holidays.
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