I was delighted this year to watch my 37yo son unwrap a present from his 32yo sister, and she had followed a family tradition of several layers of wrapping paper to (maddeningly) prolong the process. So much joy in the room (mostly mine, as my adult kids have been severely sick with substance abuse for oh about 24 years, on and off but mostly on, and this year they are both healthy and in recovery.) Yes. May the unwrapping be joyous. However long it takes.
As I reflected on this week’s Signal Fire (it’s like reflecting on the message of a church sermon-!) I wondered whether a sense of contentment was first necessary to create that sense of peace- the proverbial “count your blessings”, looking at one’s life with a half full cup rather than half empty. But, after getting of the phone just now with someone who has recently taxed my patience, I do agree that peace comes first - coming at a situation with a sense of peace made all the difference today.
Wishing you and all of our community a happy Christmas.
IT IS LIKE A CHURCH SERMON!! : ) Pastor Tyler. I mean, a good one. I grew up in a Lutheran church where our church sermons were pretty sweet and kind and basically good for the community. I was doing chi gong while listening to this and I had to stop and just stand still and let it soak in. And then tears. : )
I finally found peace this year but it cost me everybody from a life I once knew. It’s left me with loneliness this week. Hopefully the rest will follow quickly in the new year. May joy find the rest of you this week along with peace.
Yep I too know how peace can be expensive. So can hope. For you is there a difference between loneliness and solitude? Yes, may your new year bring relief from whatever troubles you. And may joy soon follow.
For me there is a distinct difference between solitude and loneliness. I can handle the solitude and even look forward to it at times. It’s the lack of people I can trust and rely on that leads to the loneliness. I know I am a better person when I can come back to connection with others outside of times of solitude. Rome wasn’t built in a day and these things take time.
I feel it. Thank you. Beautiful writing from a beautiful heart. Honestly, my kids were always excited about what they were getting, LOL. That says a lot about you. Thanks for sharing it. Generosity should be proud and out loud. : )
Happy, peaceful, Christmas! ❤️
To you too.
And to you, always to you.
Merry happy, to you and yours, and all our scattered light chasers.
Grateful for you all!
Scattered light chasers. That is fun to think about. I almost think light chasers would have to be scattered. : )
Yes, we always are!
scattered physically and sometimes (in my case!) mentally too :D
I love that you're here. :)
Happy Christmas. May the unwrapping be joyous. Peace and Love , yo you and yours. <3 g
I was delighted this year to watch my 37yo son unwrap a present from his 32yo sister, and she had followed a family tradition of several layers of wrapping paper to (maddeningly) prolong the process. So much joy in the room (mostly mine, as my adult kids have been severely sick with substance abuse for oh about 24 years, on and off but mostly on, and this year they are both healthy and in recovery.) Yes. May the unwrapping be joyous. However long it takes.
THIS IS THE BEST. Thank you for sharing this with us all.
I so hope all you did, all you saw, filled you up with joy.
Well that was perfection! Absolutely loved it! Needed that! Thank you as always Tyler!
Same, same, same and same.
Thank YOU as always, for being here. :)
Merry Christmas light chasers! And for those who don’t celebrate I hope you have WONDERFUL days!
So well said Meredith. You're wonderful.
As I reflected on this week’s Signal Fire (it’s like reflecting on the message of a church sermon-!) I wondered whether a sense of contentment was first necessary to create that sense of peace- the proverbial “count your blessings”, looking at one’s life with a half full cup rather than half empty. But, after getting of the phone just now with someone who has recently taxed my patience, I do agree that peace comes first - coming at a situation with a sense of peace made all the difference today.
Wishing you and all of our community a happy Christmas.
IT IS LIKE A CHURCH SERMON!! : ) Pastor Tyler. I mean, a good one. I grew up in a Lutheran church where our church sermons were pretty sweet and kind and basically good for the community. I was doing chi gong while listening to this and I had to stop and just stand still and let it soak in. And then tears. : )
Ahhh, haha I love this so much...who woulda thunk it, a Buddhist Autistic preaching hahaha.
Peace first, and this is such an astute observation. I appreciate this so much.
From someone with anxiety, thank you for the peace wishes. I wish all of the peace to you & yours too. 🫶🫶
Me too. Anxiety is hard for me too. Sending you and yours back some peace wishes in a full circle. : )
So much love and peace to you! 🫶
I wish you so much stillness, the cessation of all anxiety.
I finally found peace this year but it cost me everybody from a life I once knew. It’s left me with loneliness this week. Hopefully the rest will follow quickly in the new year. May joy find the rest of you this week along with peace.
Yep I too know how peace can be expensive. So can hope. For you is there a difference between loneliness and solitude? Yes, may your new year bring relief from whatever troubles you. And may joy soon follow.
For me there is a distinct difference between solitude and loneliness. I can handle the solitude and even look forward to it at times. It’s the lack of people I can trust and rely on that leads to the loneliness. I know I am a better person when I can come back to connection with others outside of times of solitude. Rome wasn’t built in a day and these things take time.
Hope is the most expensive of all things, but the most worth it.
I hope the loneliness passes, I hope it's replaced with a sense of fullness, of peace, of love.
It ended up being a truly magical night. You can read about it on my other account! 😊 https://callmeellie.substack.com/p/the-christmas-connection
I feel it. Thank you. Beautiful writing from a beautiful heart. Honestly, my kids were always excited about what they were getting, LOL. That says a lot about you. Thanks for sharing it. Generosity should be proud and out loud. : )