Christmas: a time for thanks and reflection

Christmas is upon us, once again raising the question of what exactly are we celebrating?

The birth of Christ? The arrival of Santa? A time to get drunk without the prospect of a work hangover?

For some it is the end of the work year, an escape from the nagging boss, mind-numbingly mundane natterings of co-workers and the daily invasion of personal space on the sardine tin public transit.

For others it is a chance to catch up with families, friends and loved ones, a time to chew the fat, consume food til distended and drink oneself into a fruit punch induced coma.

Whatever the reason for celebration it is often a time for reflection.

I went to church this morning – its allright you can exhale – and it was a pleasant experience. The Minister spoke of how Christmas has become commercialised and that much is true. As a child we celebrate the materialistic nature of Christmas; who doesn’t like getting presents? Even if they are from a crazy old man who flies around the globe at the speed of light led by a team of reindeer – how our parents got that one to stick is beyond me. But I digress.

Now that I am no longer a child, although some may think I act as one at times, I appreciate the less materialistic elements of Christmas. Not perhaps the ‘Birth of our Lord’ angle that the Minister was trumpeting this morning – but the gathering of family and friends, the celebration of how good life is and how lucky we are. I cannot imagine the painful degrees of suffering many of the world’s citizens feel today and every other day – to many Christmas is just another day in hell. How can we improve the lives of others? What can I do to make a difference? This is the message I took from today’s service and for that I was grateful I attended at stupid o’clock this morning.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas wherever you are and can take time to appreciate the life they have, the friends and family, the safety and comfort and reflect on how we can help those not so fortunate.

Til next we meet, Merry Christmas!

The Summer of Ben

A long time in the making, the Summer of Ben has begun. It is a time for reflection, a time to relax, to escape the rush, fuss and pressure of everyday life. Few get the opportunity to grab the life remote, press the pause button and just live.

But what does that mean? What does it say about someone when they quit their job, begin to dismantle and assess their life? For me, it is about unburdening, about simplifying the way I live, what I focus on, what affects me – essentially, to not get too cheesy or spiritual as I try to be neither, what defines me.

This is a time to enjoy the simpler things. To not let the clock rule, be at the beck and call of the email or sms, to do what I want, when I want and for as long as I want. Yes, I guess it is a selfish time in a way – to get away from the grinding, crushing, weighty pressure of modern day – and focus on me.

The upside of this decision is that there will be more posts on Schreiben – yes, that’s right my good friends, I have not forgotten you. I hope to post on a regular basis and reconnect with all of you out there.

So, apologies for the lack of posts; it is time for that to change, starting now.

I’ll be in touch soon – have a great day.