Annual Holiday Greetings

Friends,

The annual tradition of sending and receiving Christmas cards in years past is becoming a bit passé. But I still receive a precious number, and, in turn, I continue to enjoy my year-end opportunity to write and reconnect with friends and family I would rarely hear from during the year. As I get older the seasonal correspondence means ever more to me. Photos of the children and grandchildren growing up, some travel pics, moves to new homes and jobs, comparisons of memories when we were younger, and expressions of common concerns for the world seem to be the main themes. Most importantly, however, each correspondence brings back nostalgic memories of years of friendships and common lives. We cherish the letters and cards that link us both to our past and now bring us into the present with stories and reports from the past year or so. And then the various notes, of course, often also remind me of friends who have passed or are unable to communicate this year.

Rather than a colorful seasonal card it is now more common to send an email letter with year-end family or personal updates. Because these notes seemed to become overly heavy with self congratulations in the past, I resisted using this method myself. But I have come to admit they do make make it possible to send out more information to more people with far less time and cost, and Cathy and I are more inclined each year to at least partially resort to our own version. But I do try to include a personal message with each letter. Yes, like most of you, my letters are mostly about the sunnier side of our lives, but I also try to be honest about the struggle with aging, personal and familial worries, and politics while still keeping pace with family and friends and our community life. And our more candid letters feel more seasoned and actually reassuring, so we try to share the downsides of our year as well. (At this point It seems I should be sharing our year-end letter with you all. However, not surprisingly, it is not ready and many of you will already receive it.  If you don’t receive our letter, and would like it, just let us know.)

Much of my mulling and reflecting on my life now is about my various relationships over the years, and I often wonder what has happened with this or that friend, so unexpected notes from disconnected friends are particularly welcome. I recently reconnected with a card from a friend with whom I shared my experience in India, for example, and that led me to remember so many faces and places from my seminal life experience there in my twenties. And so it goes when I hear from other friends.

The seasonal cards and letters are examples of the common threads of relationships that intertwine in the complexity of our emotional memories and lived experiences of years past that provide a holding for us during this often tumultuous and unsettled present time when community is so important to us. If we are fortunate, we have a number of beloved mutual friends with whom we can share our personal and community lives. If we have lapsed or broken relationships, I have found that as we age we are more willing and able to try healing the wounds that still exist among us.

So in this often busy time of holiday preparation, may you also find ample time to carefully and lovingly read the holiday cards you receive, and may you, in turn, be willing to share your current lives of joy, challenges, and plans for the future. Shared lives, shared stories, are the heart of community and, actually, the heart of any life well lived.

As I will be traveling next Saturday, this will be my version of a holiday greeting and blessing to all my readers. So I wish for all of us in this transitionary season that we might both seek and find the solace of the precious and often lifelong relationships that provide us with loving ballast and hope in these uncertain times.

And may your spiritual life be nurtured by the examples of so many of our faithful friends and family.

Peace,
Tom