Those of you who know me well will not be surprised to find me writing about Five Gold Rings. I love Christmastide, and do my best to celebrate each joyous day of the Twelve Days of Christmas. But it isn't easy - I confess that I am a bit of a hybrid; although I am thoroughly hard-wired for the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany cycle and do my best to follow that rhythm, I am also completely acculturated to American holiday practices, which involve cranking up Christmas mid-November and pulling the plug on it December 26th. I hold off on the Christmas decs until after Thanksgiving, but there is no way I can wait to decorate the tree until Christmas Eve! And as for carols - my poor long-suffering congregations have been introduced to all manner of Advent hymns (with mixed reviews), but I soften the line by the Third Sunday of Advent and allow the beloved Christmas carols to sneak into worship (one at a time) until Christmas Eve - when the palate is refreshed and ready for a steady diet of carols. All of this means that by the time I am well into the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas already feels a bit "over." Done. Next please. Already my mind is racing off to Epiphany as I look for the star...
...but then I remember that the only place we encounter God is in the present. Not by time-traveling to the past or future, but now. That means now - in Christmastide - this mysterious season of joy.
Joy is an interesting experience, as it is a pure gift of Spirit. Unlike happiness, we cannot manufacture or create joy - it comes as gift. It helps to be open to it, or looking towards it, but ultimately it comes from God, and all we can do is embrace it, tear off the wrapping paper and prepare to be amazed by it. Or, if our mood is less exuberant, allow it to be the ocean that surrounds us and buoys our spirits until we find ourselves completely enveloped in love. Glory be - what a gift!
It would be wonderful if Advent/Christmas/Epiphany also came with a cessation of some of the more difficult experiences of life - like pain, mistreatment/injustice, and suffering (PMS). Sadly, those experiences do not agree to take a holiday from late November through February, and in fact can become intensified during the "festive seasons." How can we feel joy if we are facing PMS?
Even in the midst of suffering, we can hold on to Five Gold Rings to help us move through/get through/survive PMS - valuable, precious and wise realities that can emerge as guides during even the most difficult of experiences:
Gold Ring One: Pain, mistreatment/injustice and suffering can quickly focus our attention on what really matters, as it helps us to clarify our values, priorities, and choices. It can cut through our mental and spiritual fog like a lighthouse.
Gold Ring Two: Unexpected or long-term difficulties provide a proving ground for new behaviors and responses, which are particularly helpful when feeling stuck, and can lead to liberation from the PMS. If we want a different outcome, it often involves a different response. These responses and behaviors, when new, require practice - sometimes lots of practice. Sigh - life seems to provide ample opportunities to practice new behaviors.
Gold Ring Three: PMS can jolt us out of complacency and the status quo, thus allowing us to see new possibilities and opportunities. We resist change; PMS can push us into change that is good for us, but would have been resisted if not necessary.
Gold Ring Four: Pain, mistreatment/injustice and suffering can turn us towards God, as we try to understand what is happening, and look for ways to survive/move through the difficulties. Our prayers may start out sounding like this: "Are you kidding me? What are you thinking? This can't possibly be happening - not now. How in the world am I every going to get through this? Are you out of your mind? Stop this! Do something! Help me! Make this go away, or fix it!" The more honest we are with God, the more able we will be to see how God is at work in our life, even in the midst of horrible circumstances. Over time, we begin to see the unique signature of God's presence and movement. As we discern God's working within our life, we can begin to collaborate/cooperate with God - a powerful step. And a step that opens us to transformation and joy.
Gold Ring Five: PMS, when faced with an open heart, can deepen our ability to feel compassion for others, suspend our judgmental attitudes, and empower us to work for health, justice and dignity for all. We take the pain, injustice and suffering we feel and allow it to soften our heart and mind - we allow God to spin gold from straw. This movement from compassion to action is the movement of social transformation, and another pathway to true joy.
Gold rings - precious metal in the shape of a circle, which is a symbol for the feminine and feminine wisdom. It is also a symbol of commitment. What a perfect image to honor God's promise to never abandon us or leave us alone, but to journey with us in a loving, guiding way - especially in the presence of PMS - and lead us to the joy of being God's companion and co-creator! Through our transformation, the world is transformed by love. What joy!
Happy Fifth Day of Christmas,
Kim
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