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R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
     Wed 16 Dec 2009 12:00am
 
The holiday season is here and our annual Revels service kicked off the season of
celebrations in a festive way.  With the fun, this is also a season to share love and
warmth with others ~ taking time out of the frantic pace of live to let your loved ones
know how much you care about them; and to not forget those people in the world that
are less fortunate than ourselves.
 
As I met with the children and youth for a recent Social Justice Sunday, we talked
about the holidays being a time to share warmth with others.  Whether it is in
reference to gift giving or helping others, there is no shortage of messages regarding
the many ways to share using money.  But the truth is that you don’t need money to
truly show that you care.  This is a list that came up with of the many ways you can
share your love:
 
• sing holiday carols together
• bake cookies together
• give hugs
• catch snowflakes together
• give away hot cocoa, candy canes, chocolate, or popsicles.
• watch a movie together by the fire with popcorn
• give away toys you don’t want anymore
• volunteer at a homeless shelter
 
What a great list the kids came up with!  I hope you will be inspired by their sharing
and add a few of your own good ideas.  And then take some time during this busy
season to enjoy actually doing a few.   
 
I often say that the holiday season can kick off a new year of love and compassion.  It
can be a time of getting inspired during the cold days of winter to look for warmth from
sharing love with others.  That type of warmth can carry us through the remaining cold
days of winter.  How might we keep the warmth of love and the spark of connection
burning bright for us this winter?     
 
I know one way for me will be to participate in the Interfaith Leadership Training and
Service Event co-sponsored by the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
and the Interfaith Youth Core.  Robyn Ralli was the one FPS youth who came forward
with enthusiastic interest and some amazing essay responses, and then Robyn and I
were selected as one of fifteen teams to represent their congregation at this important
event happening in Georgia in January.  Robyn and I are very excited about being
chosen as we hope this will help us inspire local youth to plant seeds of acceptance of
diversity as we all work together to make our world a better place.  We hope this
interfaith work can help us carry forward all the meaningful and important messages
we hear this time of year about love, peace, and connection.   
 
Roberta  ♥
 

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