by Roxanne -

Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Photo Narnia ChroniclesIf you are looking for an entertaining, imaginative film to see during the holidays consider The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We saw it yesterday in 3-D, but during the day so the ticket price was lower.

The Narnia Chronicles were written by British theologian C.S. Lewis. His theological focus was often in the area of eschatology or what is known as the study of end times or last things. Of course we are always living in end times because none of us knows when our life will end. Each and every day may be our last. We do not know.

Lewis’ stories, however, focus more on the choices we make throughout our lives that form who we are as persons. The characters in his stories must choose between that which is the best within themselves rather than succumbing to entropy, doing nothing or worse – actively choosing total self-interest or evil.

Another interesting feature of the Narnia stories is that Aslan, the lion (or “God” in our world), has the ability to come to the aid of the characters and make things happen that they cannot imagine for themselves. During this film for example, Aslan appears to Lucy when she is trying to choose between being her most authentic self or denying who she is at her core. Aslan’s presence helps her to find the courage she needs to choose her most authentic self. The same is true in our world.

Throughout the film we see clearly that if characters do not participate in Aslan’s banquet or enter Aslan’s country, it is because they choose to remain behind. Aslan will not prevent them from participating or entering. And so it is with God and us. We are invited into God’s household every second of every day. We have to be willing to seek it, recognize it and say yes to it.

Like Narnia, the world is an awe-filled, magical and enchanting place. We live in a teaching reality. It judges not. We have intelligence and imagination. We can learn from our experiences. Creation, reality is meant to be heaven on earth – the choice is ours.

by Roxanne -

Christmas Craziness or Christmas Spirit?

The crazy consumerism around Christmas is a recent development in our society that you can read more about if you like. A century ago no one could have imagined that frantic shopping, “Hallmark” expectations or decorating frenzy that now surrounds this holiday.

And yet, we need a respite from the dark, cold, dreary days of winter.  The pagan mid-winter celebrations that ultimately became Christmas did just that.  At mid-winter Christmas offers us a chance to gather with friend and family and take time to reflect. But more and more people are finding other ways to do this that do not involve shopping, decorating or frantic activity as Leo Babuata creatively explains in his thoughtful article “The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents.”

But Christmas is not merely another pagan winter solstice holiday. Christmas is the celebration of the Christian belief that God is not like the Greek god Zeus – distant and impersonal. In Christmas, Christianity makes an astounding claim. The ancient Greek worldview insisted that the Infinite (God) could not fit in the finite, meaning in this world which was finite. Christianity’s claim that God entered the world in the person of Jesus blatantly rejects that worldview. The Infinite or God could fit in the finite. God became a human person in the person of Jesus, truly God and truly human.

This belief made a profound claim about who we are as persons. We each have the capacity to contain divinity or God within ourselves because we are truly human too. The world is a fundamentally good place fit to be inhabited by God and we are fundamentally good at our core. Certainly God shone through more clearly in someone like Mother Theresa than in someone like Hitler whose ego ran the show. Nevertheless God lived in both of them. This Christian claim insists that God is within the world and within us even though God is also beyond what we can know or understand. So the world is sacred and God is deeply personal. What a shocking thing to declare! Christmas reminds us of this declaration. Emmanual, meaning God with us and within us.

So how to celebrate this amazing understanding? Last year I gathered with close friends three times. Each time we learned how to make something easy, new and delicious. The first time we learned how to make wonderful, buttery soft caramels. The second time we tried our hand at no-knead, crusty artisan bread and an authentic Italian tiramisu. The third time we took advantage of our many hands to make dozens of tamales with corn husks, masa, jalepanos, various meats and cheese. Soup, wine and music rounded out the afternoon. Each time we gathered we talked, shared, and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. We left with something delicious we could share with others and enjoy easily as leftovers. The Christmas season seemed to gently flow from Thanksgiving through to January. No frantic shopping or frenzied activity. All of those activities I simply let go of. Just fun and enjoyment with friends and family.

Other years I have done holiday baking as a way to serve homeless families or hosted a Christmas Tea to help raise money for ESPERA Funds, transformative community lending funds for women caught in  the cycle of poverty.

These are some different ways to experience the spirit of Christmas. To deeply experience the sacred in our lives sometimes we need to consider what really adds substance to our lives rather than activities our culture, society or families expect. How do you experience the spirit of Christmas revealing itself in your life? How could you help others do the same?

Merry Christmas!

by Roxanne -

Lunar Eclipse

Photo Reuters

I don’t know about you, but where I live it was more like “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” – so there wasn’t even a possibility of seeing the evergreens out back, much less the lunar eclipse. But what a confluence of amazing events – the solstice and the eclipse. It makes me pause and think about the fact that we are merely creatures on a planetary spaceship, traveling at fantastic speed as part of a solar system located on the outer edge of a larger galaxy. It is all so fragile, yet awesome at the same time.

Do we live in a dark, random, hostile universe? Or, as John Haught surmises, did we emerge into an inter-stellar womb created to sustain a 15 billion-year pregnancy for life? What do you think? Is reality loving and nurturing at its core or hostile?

How we answer these basic questions determines our stance toward reality and life. One answer begets a stance of fear, protectionism and defensiveness. Another invites curiosity, openness and exploration.

If you like, you can see an entire series of beautiful pictures of our neighboring celestial orb here.

Were you able to view the eclipse where you live? Leave a comment and let me know.

by Roxanne -

Winter Solstice

Photo R. Meshar

Today is the eve of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Those of us who live in the north are often more aware of this because the light we experience during the day has decreased dramatically in a very short period of time. Where I live it begins to get dark by 4:30pm and it is completely dark by 5:00pm. Those who live closer to the equator still experience almost twelve hours of daylight, from 6am to 6pm.

When the weather is so cold, there is so much snow and the daylight is so brief it takes a little more effort to participate in activities in the evening. Personally, I’m much more likely to want to light a few candles, make some tea, put on some music and curl up by the fireplace with a good book.

In the midst of all of this I am grateful that at least where I live there may be lots of snow, but it is frequently sunny during the day. When I lived in Chicago winter days were often overcast – and effect from nearby Lake Michigan. Sometimes it felt like I never saw sunshine for weeks on end.

The winter solstice is always an interesting metaphor for our own lives. Sometimes we seem to move in darkness or in shadow, not quite being able to see clearly. Cultural, social and family patterns or expectations can dim our ability to perceive reality as it truly is. Usually it takes letting go of expectations, dropping assumptions or stepping back in order for the light to shine in.

Light and transparency is everything. Reading, talking with others, reflection and meditation all help to shine light in our inner and outer worlds. Relationships, patterns of thinking or events can be seen in new or different perspectives.

Today we turn the corner. From now on the days will continue to get longer as we move toward summer. We will experience more light in our lives. The more we are in right relationship with our deepest interior, the easier it is to see the world clearly. The more we see who we really are inside the more the possibilities of the world open up for us. But also the unjust structures of the world and distorted thinking are viewed clearly as well. It takes courage to walk in the light.

May the winter solstice bring courage and clarity to your world.

Peace and Light to all, Roxanne

Photo A. Meshar