Acceptance…
As Christmas 2021 approaches I wonder if you are feeling like it is rushing at you like an NFL lineman or nearing like a refreshing, gentle breeze?
This year feels much more normal than Christmas 2020. Yet, it certainly doesn’t feel normal.
Part of the difference is still “the virus” itself. The official policies and lifestyle choices of our friends and neighbours still make the usual traditions surrounding Christmas…well, unusual.
If the difference was limited to what I stated in the paragraph above I don’t think I would be writing this note though.
In my heart of hearts I believe it has been the huge increase in division that makes Christmas 2021, feel a little bit distant and sterile.
People are hurting and too often this is because of a sense of alienation that has entombed them. Alienation that is rooted in divisions of belief on many levels and topics.
As these topics (politics, vaccines, wealth divide, housing crisis, supporting the poor, etc.) bombard us from all directions, we are further polarized in our views and, too often, stand our own ground as to what we believe.
The algorithms and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like, work to further polarize our views (even if you don’t use social media, the network news you choose to listen to will do the same thing).
It all culminates into a feeling that “we” hold the truth and we are right in our views. Worse, it makes us believe that “they” are wrong.
This is not new to history…not even close.
Some of humanities darkest days started down the pathways we now find ourselves experimenting with at present.
So how is this a Merry Christmas letter again Nick?
My belief (which may be biased from the wells of information I feed upon) is that 2022 needs to be a year of acceptance.
We need to lay down our biases and look into the eyes of our family members, friends, neighbours or even strangers and remember what it is like to say “I disagree with you, but I accept that our difference in opinion or belief does not separate us from being friendly or caring for each other.”
This requires every one of us to embrace a humble predisposition that we don’t hold all truth to ourselves and then add a sprinkle of love and caring to our everyday contacts.
I know there are families divided right now; friendships divided; worksites and offices divided. We see clearly countries and cities divided. How do we bring healing to these divisions?
My humble submission is acceptance. Maybe it gets watered down to tolerance, but if we can add that sprinkle of love and caring the world just might turn the corner from continuing down a dark pathway.
It has been my pleasure and honour to work with you in 2021.
My heart goes out to those of you, who for whatever reason, dealing with deep feelings of alienation and division this year. May there be better days ahead for you!
For those who are feeling like everything is awesome and why would I even write something like this for a Christmas letter? Well, I am thankful that you are in such a place this year. Those are great years when we feel like all is well with our world.
My wife, Genevieve and I, wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year whether you are feeling that way or not right now. May we all live 2022 with a little more acceptance, compassion, caring and love for all those around us.