It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.                                               Mother Teresa

With all the hoopla of the world ending on December 21^st, 2012-I have to tell you that while I definitely did not want a major catastrophic event-it would have been nice to see at least a little firework. Not the kind of devastation that harms or ends our world, but yet a rushing in of a somewhat sort of spiritual tide sparking a new beginning for all life on earth. It was then that I realized the flame internally was what needed to ignite.

To me, Christmas is not a holiday, but a state of mind and an opening of heart. It reminds me of the conduit that flows throughout each life and joins us as one and for one magical season of the year-we are brought to an awareness of it. Whether we choose to “ring in the season” is up to us, but there are more choices to this holy awareness. It is this-do I strive to keep my heart open in every moment when faced with everything? The “Norman Rockwell” image so abundantly sought after at Christmastime tends to trap us into an illusory bubble far from the reality of “Christmas.” Christ, with all the love, forgiveness, humility, trust, and compassion tends to get left behind in the shadow of our external yearnings. The real-ness of family, friends and those we don’t know waiting to be seen in the light.

Christmas “true Christmas” serves an open heart not through a particular season but yet throughout our life each and every day that we live. Through all its injustices, hurts, frustrations and senselessness of events we do not understand life offers us the opportunities to serve and heal. I know no greater gift than that of “connection” to all that is. When we can feel the ushering in of this energy, this life force, this spirit that reaches down into the depths of our being and connects us to everyone and everything around us- we are alive. No closed heart protects us from anything. It is the open heart that acts as a shield with its wisdom crumbling the fear and stone walls that threaten to separate us from the very experiences we need to thrive. It is in this Spirit that our eyes and heart are opened evolving our limited ways of thinking into limitless ways of being.

Merry Christmas everyone! And a special heartfelt Merry Christmas to my friend Doris Griffin, your insight is your greatest gift to each one of us.

Please see new updates: Under the page BRIDGES this week- Diarmuid O’Murchu’s latest book- In The Beginning was Spirit. Excellently written.

Under the page ESSAY Closet- a Poem -This Special Time of Year