ERIC BUTTERWORTH PAPERS (3014)
BOX 25 FOLDER 106
CHRISTMAS: A COSMIC
INSIGHT
DECEMBER 23,1990
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I ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WILL CELEBRATE CHRIST-! MAS , AND ANY CHILD CAN TELL YOU THAT CHRISTMAS IS THE BIRTHDAY 'OF JESUS — BUT HAVING SAID THAT, HE WILL CHANGE THE SUBJECT TO A MORE VIVID INTEREST IN SANTA CLAUS.
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ANYONE CAN TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY:	OF	SHJ^HERDS	AND WISE-MEN,
I OF MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE INN THAT HAD NO ROOM. WE REMEMBER ' IT WELL BECAUSE OF #THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS CRECHES WE ASEMBLE IN I OUR HOMES OR SEE DISPLAYED IN SHOP WINDOWS OR SEE DRAMATIZED IN / TELEVISION SPECIALS . AND IN 4wAY THIS CRECHE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE PASTE-ON PIETY OF THE SEASON, WHICH IS SO SOON PACKED AWAY WITH ORNAMENTS AND TINSEL AFTER THE PERFUNCTORY PRACTICE IS FULFILLED.
/OH, IT IS A GLORIOUS TIME OF FAMILY GATHERINGS, AND THE EXCHANGE I OF REMEMBRANCES, AND GOOD FOOD AND CONVIVIAL	BUT
1 IT IS OFTEN THE LICENSE FOR IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR = AND AS HffT BISHOP PUTS IT, "FOR KISSISNG THE WRONG PERSON UNDER THE MISTLETOE",
DON"T MISUNDERSTAND ME, I LOVE THE TRADITONAL CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
AND I CONFESS TO BEING A SOFT SNTAMENTALIST WHEN|T COMES T4> THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND GIFTS AND CAROLS.
BUTj/l WANT US TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT CHRISTMAS''HOW THE LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS EVOLVED, AND WHAT THE WHOLE THING SHOULD MEAN FOR US TODAY, AND HOW WE CAN APPLY ITS AIMS IN OUR PRACTICE OF THE TRUTH.
^LOOKING WELL BACK INTO ANTIQUITY, WELL BlEFORE f)THE DEVELOPMENT 'OF THE BIBLE AND TH^IORSHIP OF YAHWEH. ■ .BACK IN THE CHfifLDHOOD OF HUMANITY...THE DAILY \)EATH OF THE SUN* WAS REGARDED AS A REALITY. THIS IS SOMEWHAT INCREDIBLE SEEING THAT IT HAPPENED EVERY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. BUT IS WAS A CONSTANT TOPIC OF ANXIETY: AND IT IS CERTAIN THAT ONCE A YEAR IT ALARMED THEM TERRIBLY. KSl TO FAIL IN AUTUMN AND TO FALL INTO INCREASING DE?PRESSION AS WINTER DREW Ofl.
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CHRIS'IMAS: TtOSMIZTlNSlGH
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I ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WILL CELEBRATE CHRIST-| MAS , AND ANY CHILD CAN TELL YOU THAT CHRISTMAS IS THE BIRTHDAY 'OF JESUS — BUT HAVING SAID THAT, HE WILL CHANGE THE SUBJECT TO A MORE VIVID INTEREST IN SANTA CLAUS.
ANYONE CAN TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY:	OF	SHEPHERDS	AND WISE-MEN,
I OF MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE INN THAT HAD NO ROOM. WE REMEMBER ' IT WELL BECAUSE OF fTHE LITTLE CHRISTMAS CRECHES WE ASEMBLE IN I OUR HOMES OR SEE DISPLAYED IN SHOP WINDOWS OR SEE DRAMATIZED IN I TELEVISION SPECIALS . AND IN 4wAY THIS CRECHE IS SYMBOLIC OF \ THE PASTE-ON PIETY OF THE SEASON, WHICH IS SO SOON PACKED AWAY WITH ORNAMENTS AND TINSEL AFTER THE PERFUNCTORY PRACTICE IS FULFILLED.
/OH, IT IS A GLORIOUS TIME OF FAMILY GATHERINGS, AND THE EXCHANGE I OF REMEMBRANCES, AND GOOD FOOD AND CONVIVIAL	BUT
I
IT IS OFTEN THE LICENSE FOR IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR = AND AS HUT BTSHOfr PUTS IT, "FOR KISSISNG THE WRONG PERSON UNDER THE MISTLETOE".
DON"T MISUNDERSTAND ME, I LOVE THE TRADITONAL CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
AND I CONFESS TO BEING A SOFT fiNTAMENTALIST WHEN^T COMES Ti> THE
CHRISTMAS TREE AND GIFTS AND CAROLS.
= ^ === "
BUT/I WANT US TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT CHRISTMAS^HOW THE LEGENDS AND
CUSTOMS EVOLVED, AND WHAT THE WHOLE THING SHOULD MEAN FOR US TODAY,
AND HOW WE CAN APPLY ITS AIMS IN OUR PRACTICE OF THE TRUTH.
^LOOKING WELL BACK INTO ANTIQUITY, WELL BEFORE «THE DEVELOPMENT 'OF THE BIBLE AND TH^IORSHIP OF YAHWEH.■.BACK IN THE CHlTLDHOOD OF HUMANITY...THE DAILY ^DEATH OF THE SUN* WAS REGARDED AS A REALITY, THIS IS SOMEWHAT INCREDIBLE SEEING THAT IT HAPPENED EVERY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. BUT IS WAS A CONSTANT TOPIC OF ANXIETY: AND IT IS CERTAIN THAT ONCE A YEAR IT ALARMED THEM TERRIBLY. S^fiKAN TO FAIL IN AUTUMN AND TO FALL INTO INCREASING DEGRESSION AS WINTER DREW OH.
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PRIMITIVE MAN	LIVE/)8	0N	CONSTANT	FEAR,	BUST	NONE
Was greater that the fear that took hold of the people at
'■THIS SEEMING DECAY OF THEIR GREAT GOD OF/llGHT AND WARMTH.
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( WAS HE DYING OR^OULD HE REVIVE AND REAPPEAR? THERE WERE''ALMANACS, NO CALENDARS, NO SYSTEMATIC ORDERING OF TIME INTO SEASONS AND YEARS. NO MEMORY OF WHATy^APPENED LAST YEAR — ALL THEY KNEW WAS THAT THEIRjCHIEf^OURC^OMFORT/^ND LIFE WAS FAILING.
PERHAPS WE CAN IMAGINE THE EAGERNESS WITF^VHICH THOSE EARLY MEN AND WOMEN WATCHED FOR THE FIRST INDICATION OF A LENGTHENING DAY: AND THE UNIVERSAL JOY WHENCE PRIEST OR WITCIfflOCTOR ANNOUNCED THAT THE DAY WAS LENGTHENING — AND THAT/THE SUF^/AS REALLY BORN AGAIN TOA NEW AND GLORIOUS CAREER. THAT WAS ROUGHLY ^ ON DECEMBER l^TH.
THE TIME CAME WHEN NATURAL PHENOMENA WERE NO LONGER DEIFIED,
AND ONE INVISIBLE GOD TOOK THE PLACEjjF THE MANY VISIBLE ONES.
BUT MANJJ' FESTIVALS AND RITES OF SOLAR ORIGIN ARE STILL WITH US TODAY, ENTWINED INTO THE FABRIC OF MODERN CIVILIZATION.
AS THE ROMANS CONQUERED THE WORLD, THEY BROUGH r^EAT SPOIU of/their WARS...AMONG WHICH WERE THE GODS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
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fTHESE WERE INCORPORATED INTO "ROMAN RELIGION WHICH, THUS,
WAS COMPOSED OF/fltANY GODS. TWO OF THEM COMPETED FOR FAVOR AT THE FESTIVAL OF WINTER SOLSTIC^^^fiuRNAIJA THE FESTIVAL THAT ^SIMILAR! IN MANY WAY Tj>OUR CHRISTM8*- IT IS A COMPLETE HOLIDAY, OFF WORK, HAD FAMLIL^ABTHERINGS, THE CHILDREN RECEIVED GIFTS OF TOYS BROUHT/fe/A SANTA CLAUS-LIKE FIGURE WITH A WHITE BEARD WHO CAME DOWN FROM THI^JORTH ON THE FESTIVAL DAY,ABOUT
DEC. 17th.
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AND fmTHRAj THE PERSIAN GOD OF/LIGHT, DEFENDER OF TRUTH, AND ENEMY OF TfHE POWER OF DARKNESS. CELEBRATE DECEMBER 25th.
SO THE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE FOURTH CENTBRVaS as a festival in honor of the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST,
TODAY WHEN WE TRfl OUR CHRISTMAS TREE WITH LIGHTS (wteefauiacdtO beacaodtes) it is a REMNANT OF THE RITE WHICH WAS TO GUIDE THE SUN-GOD BACK/rO LIFE; AND WHEN WE EAT OUR PLUM-PUDDING WE REALIZE THAT THOUGH* IT# IS GROSSLY INCONGRUOUS WITH THE
* HONOUR OF THE
BIRTHlOF JESUS, ITAIN HARMONY WITH A SUN/ASfHELD IN ANCIENT TIMES WHEI^AKES OF CORN AND FRUIT WERE LAID ON"ALTAg^ND)DEDICATED TO THE LORD OF LIGHT.
IS-OfTEN POINTED OUT THATjfoODERNS PREFER TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN THE MANNER OF A PAGAN FESTIVAL.
flW MOST ANCIENT SYMBOL OF THE SUN IS A WHEEL WITF/SPOKES FOR /RAYS, ANH'IF WE DltflNTO THE DERIVATION WE FIND THAT OUR WORD ' WHEEL COMES FROM YO^E OR YUUL, CLEANING SUN, AND USED AS A FESTIVAL TERM AT/rHE WINTER SOLSTICE,^SO THAT WE STILL SPEAK / OF THE’YULELOG:/ WE COULD SPEND HOURS IN Just FINDING THE MANY RELICS OF SUN-WORSHIP IN OUR CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS.
IF WE PROBE HONESTLY INTO THE BACKGROUND AND ROOTS OF CHRISTMAS , THE FIRST OBVIOUS THING WE DISCIVER IS THAT JESUS' BIRTH HAD IMPLICATIONS FAR BEYOND THE DRAMATIC BEGINNING OF A RELIGION. ITrSEEMS-TO-ME THAX-TPE-WtTVERSE IS TOO GRAND-AND TOO INTELLIGENT Tj&-fr~lNOTMPASSEP~B¥-ONE SECTARIAN CONCEPT, OR LIMITEB-tfr QNE-jmRWM¥-4IE_iJaJ^
ACTUALLY THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT TELL WHEN JESUS WAS BORN.
NOT EVEN fiTHE YEAR IS CERTAIN. ACJBMffV SCHOLARS AGREE TODAY
THAT THERE WAS AN ERRORllN COMPUTATION.. .WAS FOURibR FIVE YEARS EARLIER.
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ThE HUMAN CREATURE FROM EARLIEST TIMES, HAS INTUITIVELY KNOWN THE MEANING OF AND THE NEED FOR Transcendent light. NOTE THE WIDESPREAD C^^I^N OF THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF LWf AT THE FESTIVAL Of^lINTER SOLSTICE.: TH^TIME WHEN THE SUN IS AT ITS GREATEST DISTANCE FROM THE CELESTIAL EQUATOR - ABOUT DEC, 22nd.
NOT KNOWING THE ACTUAL DATE OF JESUS' BIRTH, IT COULD BE THAT	JESUS' BIRTH WAS SET AT THIS TIME BY DESIGN,
TO SYMBOLIZE THE RE-^FUSION OF THE PLACET WITH AN ENERGY Force BRINGING VIBRATORY RHYTHMS TO LIFT THE EARTH TO THE KIND OF "PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO MEN" SUNG BY THE "HEAVENLY HOSTS."
YOU fSEE, NOT ONLY IS *THE DATE OF JESUS" BIRTH NOT KNOWN, THE STORY OF THE BIRTH IS SERIOUSLY UP TO QUESTION.
IT DOES^OT STAND THE TEST OF HISTORICITY. IT IS GENERALLY AGREED TO BY MAST BIBLICAL SCHOLARS TODAY THAT THE CHRISTMAS LEGENDS ARE THE RESULT OF A FEW SIMPLE FACTS THAT HAVE BEEN BLOWN*!NTO SCENARIOS BORN OUT OF CONJECTURE/AND THEN THROUGH THE CENTURIES THEY HAVE BEEN OVER-DRAMATIZED AND OVER-SENTAMENTALIZED. NOT THAT THEY ARE FABLES,BUT THAT THE REAL MEANING IS OFTEN OBSCURED BY AN EMPHASIS ON MATERIALISM IN THE GRIM CHARADE OF GIFT-GIVING UNDER UNBELIEVABLE PRESSURES OF CONFORMITY AND OBLIGATION AND GUILT. (PHILIP WYLIE/ SOUNDS A "BAH HUMBUG" TONE WHEBN HE REFERS TO THE "HOPPED-UP, PRESSURELADEN, STATUS-SEEKING, COMPETITIVE DEGRADATION OF CHRISTMAS."
EVERY YEAR WE HEAR THE VOICE OF CONCERN THAT CHRISTMAS HAS
BECOME TOO MATERIALISTIC:	"LET'S	PUT	CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS".IT
IS LIKELY THAT BACK IN EARLY ROMAN TIMES THERE WAS A SIMILAR
CRY OVEF(THE WILD AND MAERIALISTIC WAY THE ROMANS KEPT THE
FEAST OFTHE WINTER SOLSTICE:	"LET"S PUT SATURN BACK INTO
SATURNALIA!"
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OF COURSE THESIS MATERIALISM INVOLVED, BUT DON'T BLAME THE MERCHANT. HE SIMPLY PROVIDES THE THINGS WE WANT. IT IS STILL COMMERCE WHETHER IT IS THE MANUFACTURE# AND SALE d)F BIBLES OR BAUBLES. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT CHRISTMAS IS (ffVER-MATE-RIALISTIC...BUT THAT PEOPLE ABANDON THE SPIRITUAL IDEALS OF THE HjUXJLAY^FOR SUPERFICIAL RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH WHAT BECOMES A'’HOLLOW DAY."
WE MIGHT NOTE A FEW OF THE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE CHRISTMAS LEGENDS THAT MAKE ANY ANALYTICAL STOP/ OF CHRISTMAS DIFICULT:
AS YOU REMEMBER THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THE NATIVITY:
IN yj|£ THERE IS THE ACCOUNT OFpOSEPH AND MARY COMING T£>
BETIHLEHEM. IT SAYS CRYPTICALLY, 'WHILE THERE SHE BROUGHT FOR* HER FIRSTBORN SON,..ANI^LAID HIM IN A MANGER, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE INN." IT IS INTERESTING HOW WE TEND TO READ INFERENCES INTO SCRIPTURAL WORDS ACCORDING TO A CONTEMPORARY FRAME OF REFERENCE. FOR INSSNCE THE WORD "INN" CONJURES UP SOMETHING LIKE AN ENGLISH PUB OR A HIGHWAY MOTEL.
WITH A BAR FILLED WITH LOUD-LAUGHING REVELERS.
THE FACT IS THE BIBLICAL TERM "INN" IS "KH/fN", WHICH WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A PROTECTIVE ENCLAVE, WITH JUST FOUR WALLS,
NO ROOF. THEY WERE LIKE CARAVAN MOTELS...PLACED A DAY'S JOURNEY APART ON THE ROADS FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO AND TO DAMASCUS,ETC. BY TAKING THEIR ANIMALS INTQ^HE KHSNC AT NIGHT THEY WERE PROTECTED FROM WILD ANIMALS AND THIEVES. WHAT THE SCRIPftURE PROBABLY ORIGINALLY SAID, "THERE WERE NO ROOMS !N_THEJiHAN...NO PLACE SUITABLE FOR TBeBIRTH IF A CHILD*
AND THE INNKEEPER WHO HAS BEEN PILLORIED AS THE EPITOME OF HARD-HEARTEDNESS...WAS ACTUALLY A COMPASSIONATE MAN, WHO FOUND THE TRAVELERS A WARM AND SAFE CAVE IN THE HILLS.
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THE MATTHEW SCENARIO IS COLORED WITH<GRANDEUR AND REGAL SPLENDOR.
IT TELLS OFjfTHREE WISE MEN, ALSO CALLED THREE KINGS, MAGI OF ASTROLOGY, THEY SAID, "We have seen the star in the EAST AND HAVE COME TO WORSHIP THE SAVIOUR BORN IN A MANGER." BUT IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING A STAR IN THE EASTEfWSKY, THEY WOULD BE RIDING EASTWARD AWAY FROM JERUSALEM...NOT TOWARD IT. SO THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWING AN ASTRONOMICAL STAR IN THE SKY AIT ALL. THEY WERE FOLLOWING AN ASTRQLOGICALjSlGLi THAT LED TIlEM TO BETHLEHEM. BRINGING GIFTS OF GOLD, FRANK-INCENSE AND MYRRTH. IN OTHER WORDS TH^STAR WAS* WITHIN THEM.
WHAT ARE WE SAYING? THAT CHRISTMAS IS A FRAUD? OF COURSE NOT. BUT THE TRUE CHRISTMAS IS NOT BASED ON FANTASY OR CONJECTURE... A STORY THAT, LIKEifA MOVIE, YUOffwATCH FOF^AN HOUR AND HAVE A GOOD CRY OVER...AND THENfcO OUT INTO LIVES OF ROUTINENESS, NOT THE LEASST BIT CHANGED BY THE EXPERIENCE.
THE ESSENTIAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS IS PUT INTO POIGNANT WORDS
BY THE MEDIEVAL MYSTIC, BROTHER AN8ELES ( JflftNN SCHFFFIFR):
"THOUGH CHRIST A THOUSANDTHS IN BETHLHEM BE BORN,
IF HE'S NOT BORN IN THEfijj, THY SOUL IS ALL FORLORN."
rTHE REAL NEED IS TO PUT OURSELVES BACK INTO CHRISTMAS,!., TO SEE
IT AS A BEAUTFUL SEASON OF LOVE AND SHARING, PULLing out all
the best stops of our nature, engaging in what % call "PRACTICAL
CHRISTMASING", FOR THE ESSENCE THAT IS CHRISTMAS IS NOT LIMITED
TO A DAY OR A SEASON. CHRISTIMAS And all its traditions AND LEGENDS
AND ITS JOY AND PEACE... J#*BUT THE ACTIVITY OF GOD MOVING THROUGH
THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF PEOPLE IN A BEAUTIFULLY SPONTANEOUS WAY.
OF COURSE IT IS A FACADE, OF COURSE THE MISTLETOE IS PLASTIC 1 ----1	•—1 .....»
AND THE CRECHE FIGURES ARE PLASTER AND PAPIER-MACHE, OF COURSE THE SANTA CLAUSES WITH THE SUIT AND MANNER THAT DO NOT FIT WILL
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SOON BE BACK AGAIN IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LINE.
YES, AND THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS THE TREES AND GARLANDS WILL COME DOWN AND THE CHRISTMAS PARAPHERNALIA WILL BE PACKED AWAY IN ATTICS AND STORE-ROOMS FOR ANOTHER YEAR...AND THE STORES WILL MAKE A QUICK TRANSITION TO JANUARY WHITE SALES. ^THEN WHAT IS THE POINT?
THE POINT IS...WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE FOR AfBRIEF SEASON IN WHICH THE TRANSCENDENT LEVEL OF PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR ZENITH. CHRISTMAS MAY BE AN IMPORTANT OUTLET FOR THE SPIRITUAL FLOW INTO THE WORLD, SO THAT THE BALANCE IS TIPPED FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. AS SOMEONE SAID, "IF THERE WERE NO CHRISTMAS WE WOULD HAVE TO INVENT ONE."
CHRISTMflJT IS LIKE AN OASIS IN A HECTIC, STRIFE-TORN WORLD...AND WHEW WE HEAR THE DARK CRY, "WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?" WE SHOULD LOOK UP IN CHILD-LIKE WONDER AND SAY, "LOOD WHAT IS COMING INTO
/	_	m it n mm ^—
iTHE WORLD."
-- — - ■ - —	—    *
SO TODAY, WHEN THE^IORLD^TANDS IN SUCH DESPARATE NEED OF LIGHT,
T#ERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR A RENAISSANCE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN
EXPERIENCE - a return to meanings within form, TO COMMITMENT BEYOND
DOCTRINE. AND THE GR^IDEA THAT CHRISTMAS SHOULD SYMBOLIZE IS
THE REBIRTH OF LIGHT INTO THEitORLD, THE AWAKENING IN PEOPLE TO
TH^DYNAMIC POTENTIAL OF THEIR GOD-SELF — WITH IS^TnHERENT PROMISE
THAT fAfPEOPLE ACT IN LOVE AND GOOD WILL, THERE CAN BE PEACE ON
EARTH.
INSTEAD OF THE PASTE-ON CELEBRATION OF NOSTALGIA AND FUN, CflRISTMAS SHOULD TURN US AWAY FROM THINGS AS* THEY ARE, TO HELP US SERIOUSLY VIEB^HOW THEY (^jy£ AND SHOULD BE....TO LEAD US INTO DEEPER LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING IN OUR QUEST FOR LIGHT, SO THAT WE MAY LOOK UPON W WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE BECOMING, AND WHAT WE SOMEDAY SHALL BE.
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AT THE TIME OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE, IF WE REALLY OPEN OURSELVES TO THE COSMIC ASPECTS OF THE EVENT THERE IS A CHRIST MASS INVOLVED.
THERE IS A PROFOUND TRUTH CONCEALED IN THE MAGIC OF THE BETHLEHEM LEGEND THAT TELLS OF EVEN THE LOWLY ANIMALS COMING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIVITY. EVERY LIFE-WAVE ON EARTH IS LITERALLY FILLED WITH EXALTATION WHEN THIS FLOW OF DIVINE LIGHT PENETRATES TO THE HEART OF THE PLANET, CAN YOU ACCEPT THIS COSMIC INSIGHT? CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ON CHRISTMAS EVE A BURST OF TRANSCENDENT LIGHT WILL DAWN IN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS?
JESUS WAS SINGING OF THIS EXPERIENCE WHEN HE SAYS:
"IN HIM WAS LIFE: AND THE LIFE WAS THCE LIGHT OF MEN. AND THE LIGHT SHIfNETH IN THE DARKNESS: A80 THE DARKNESS APPREHENDED IT NOT...THERE WAS THE TRUE LIGHT WHICH LIGHTETH EVERY MAN COMING INTO THE WORLD."FOR SQlONG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE DARKNESS, SOMETIMES AS£ UNCHRISTL IKE AS THE LOWLIEST -OF CREATURES. BUT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR GOOD.
, LIKE THE URGE OF THE*WOLF OF GUBBIO^IN JOSEPHINE PRESftON PEABODY'S
PLAY, LONGING TO BE A HUMAN BEING. IN THE COLD AND LONELINESS
(OF THE DARK AND DREARY NIGHT. HE "WONDERS HOW 'TWOUl^EEL TO SIT WITH MEN AND SHARE THEIR MEAL."
IN A MEETING WITH ST. FRANCIS, THE WOLF CONFESSES HIS SHAME
AND^UILT, TOGETHER WITH HIS LONG0NG TO BE A MAN, WHILE FRANCIS
CONFESSES HIS OWN WOLFISH SINS...HE SAYS:
"WILT THOU EARN A MAN'S OWN PEACE? THEN WORKI AND LEARN!
BACK TO THE WORLD; AND THRE MAKE GOOD ALL THOU HAST DREAMED OF BROTHERHOOD.
HOPE AND LOSE AND HOPE AGDAIN,
AND REMEMBER AND FORGET WITH US ALL: FOFjhAN ARE MffN,
BUT/toOT BROTHER*, NO NOT YET!"
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/THERE IS A F23/3NANT SCENE IN WHICH THE WOLlpPULLS BSKK,SAYING,
/"I DON'T WANT TO BE A MAN UNTIL MEN STOP ACTING LIKE WOLVES."
TH^CLIMAX OF the play takes place ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THE WOLF
OF GUBBIO, IN AN ACT OF HEARTBROKEN CONTRITION, DISSOLVES FEAR
AND ANTAGONISM AND EARNS HIS PLACE IN THE RANKS OF LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD.
^SO IN THIS SYMBOLOC WAY, THE AUTHOR DEALS WITH/I'HE REBIRTH OF LIGHT / - THE LIFTING UP OF THE BESTIAL NATURE OF MAN TO THSE AWARENESS I OF THE INHERENT DIVINITY. THIS IS WHAT? CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE REALLY TAKE SERIOUSLY THE LITTTLE CELESTIAL SPARK OF LIG0T IN ALL PERSONS...AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE PERSONAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE REBIRTH Of/.IGHT -- WE WOULD REALIZE THAT A MEETING SUCH AS THIS 'WORTH-SHIP EXPERIENCE" every Sunday —
IS NOT AN END, BUT A PREPARATION FOR WORK TO BE DONE WH8CH COMES NEXT*.
%I LOVE THE STORY OF THE~MAtjr WHO ATTENDeFTqUMET. MEETING IN \
I A QUAKER MEETINGHOUSE* AND NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, HE WAS \ P4£ZLED THA'fTHE CONGREGATION SAT IN SILENCE FOR A LONG TI/YvE. HE \ WHISPERED TO THE MAN NEXT TO HIM, "WHEN DOES THE SERVICE BEGIN."
tTHOAN REPLIED:	"WHEN THE MEETING IS OVER."____________________J
AND IN THE SAME WAY THE TRUE CHRISTMAS BEGINS WHEN THE DAY OF CELEBRATION IS OVER. THERE IS SLEEVES-ROLLED-UP WORK TO BE DONE, THE NEW CONSCIIOUSNESS TO REVEAL, AND A NEW LIGHT TO SHINE.
TOO VISIONARY.f.YOU MAY SAY. BUfT A SOCIETY THAT CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON AND SEND PICTURES BACK TO EARTH OF THE RINGS OF SATURN AND THE MOONS OF JUPITER...SHOULD BE READY TO EXPLORE NEW STEPS IN A REBIRTH OF LIGHT, TO SEED THEH*NfTAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE PLANET WITH NEW THOUGHTS OF TRANSCENDENT SIGNIFICANCE.
I WILL BE TALKING MUCH ABOUT THIS IN THE COMING YEAR, AS WE HAVE
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SET AS OUR THEME, "A CIRCLE OF LIGHT." WEWILL INTROUCE THIS IMPORTANT PEAUE INITIATIVE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 5TH, WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN THIS IMPORTtANT.^jT^_______________________ _______________
IF WE COULD OPEN THE FROZEN GROUND TODAY AND READ THE HlfTORY OF EVERY BURIED GRAIN OF WHEAT, OF EVER^LUGGISH ROOT HIDING IN THE WARM EARTH WITH ITS NEXT YEAR'S BLOSSOMS FOLDED UP WITHIN IT;
IF WE COULD KNOW THE NATljBfOF TjHEIR LATENT FORCES, AND SEE THEIR WHOLE POTENTIAL, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL EACH OF THEM, WHEN ITS TIME WOULD BE FULL; AND WE COULD PROPHESY WHEN THE GROUND WOULD BREAK AND HOW THE FLOWER WOULD BLOOM AND AT WHAT MOMENT THE FRUIT WOULD RIPEN. AND NEXT SPRING AND SUMMER WE WOULD SEE IT ALL COME TO PASS.
SO WITH THE OVER-ALL CONSCIOUSNESS OF HUMANKIND ON THE GLOBE.
WE COULD READ THE HOPES AND FEARS, THE DEEP-SEATED BELIEFS AND DOMINANT STATESOF MIND...AND WE COULD FORECAST FAIRLY ACCURATELY THE TRENDS OF MANKIND IN THE YEARS TO COME. THIS MAY SOUND LIKE PREDESTINATION. BUT IT IS NOTHING OF THE SORT. YOU SEE, THE FULNESS OF TIME CONCERNS OUR READINESS TO RECEIVE AND NOT GOD'S READINESS TO GIVE. IT IS IN NO WAY FORE-ORDAINED, FOR TH"fe PICTURE WE SENSE CAN CHANGE AND DOES - AS CONSCIOUSNESS CHANGES.
EVERY YEAR AT THE WINTfWSOLSTICE IT IS THE FULLNESS OF TIME FOR THE WORLD. IT IS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT — THE QUESTION IS: "WILL WE KEEP THE APPOINTMENT? THE ANGEL VOICES ARE SINGING...ARE WE LISTENING? THE LIGHT IS DAWNING...ARE WE SEEING? THERE IS A MOVEMENT OF LIFE WITHTlN US...ARE WE RESPONDING?’*
jf. B. S~HAW) ONCE SAID, "GOD HAS CREATED A WORLD SO WONDERFUL,
ONUir OUR BLINDNESS AND IGNORANCE CAN KEEP IT FROM PERFECT EXPRgSSION."
EACH YEAR AT THE^INTER SOLSTICE -(EVERY SEASON OF CHRISTMAS)-THERE IS A COSMIC FLOW OF LIGHT THAT BOMBARDS THE PLANET EARTH
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AND ONLY OUR INERTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PASTE-ON TRAPPINGS OF THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY (HOLLOW DAY??) CAN KEEP US FROM DISCOVERING AND GIVING BIRTH TO THE DEPTH OF LIGHT WITHIN US.
CHRISTMAS SHOULD NOT BE A BACKWARD GfcANCE, BUT/A FORWARD LOOK.
IT IS A PROPHETIC DAY, OR SHOULD BE. THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST,
THE REBIRTH OF LIGHT, BELONGS TO AN ORDER OF LIFE NOT YET ATTAINED,
A GLIMPSE OF A RACE OF PEOPLE YET TO BE.
HOW OFTfiN AND HOW EASILY WE SAY, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" certainly HAVE A MERRY TIME. BUT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. THE WORLIjfCALLS FOR LIGHTED PEACE. HOW MUCH BETTER TO IDENTIFY WITH THE COSMIC PROCESS, "THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT" - SAYING TO ONE ANOTHER, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS OF LIGHT!"
FOR THIS IS TH/E DEEPER AND MORE CREATIVE MEANING - THE COSMIC INSIGHT INTO CHRISTMAS.