This post was originally published on December 1, 2020.
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I was honestly having a tough time coming up with something to talk about for this category this month. I wanted to be all fun and light-hearted like a Hallmark Christmas movie, but I don’t think Hallmark knows about living in the time of a pandemic.
I guess the reason for the heaviness is because coming together for the holidays is going to look so different this year. And not just because we’re all wearing masks.
Yet again, this year is throwing us another example of how surreal it is because of the way we’re not doing all of our usual festive schtuff.
Company holiday events probably aren’t happening. No white elephant gifts for your friends’ Christmas house parties. Sure, I suppose we could try doing the gathering virtually, but...really?
And while I contemplated how different holiday gathering is going to be, I realized it’s also an opportunity.
This year of 2020 is giving us the gift of slow gathering.
You may have heard of slow living. The concept of taking life at a slower pace, living intentionally in each moment and not allowing the rush of life to dictate how you conduct each day.
Well, why not take a cue from that philosophy and put it into practice this Christmas season?
So instead of the large groups mingling together and talking of all the small talk things, I’m going for the smaller groups spending quality time with one another and talking big talk things.
This Christmas season while I await the coming of the birth of the savior of the world, I’m going to wait with family and with friends in cozy and warm rooms. I’m going to enjoy the quiet moments and the simple things. I’m going to make room for comfortable silences, may it be with just one other or three or four.
This season, let’s be intentional about being grateful for all that we have now. We can ruminate on all we lack but since this is the season to remember all that we do have, no matter how humble or scarce it may seem, let’s focus on that instead of what has been.
We can practice hospitality even within the constraints of restrictions. Afterall, hospitality begins within and extends outwards. It can look like a delicious meal and a beautifully decorated home and festive tablescape. But it always looks like a warm welcome and genuine desire to make guests feel at home.
