Walking in the Air

My son sang this song with his classmates (ages 5-9) at his recent elementary school holiday performance.  I asked him to do a solo for me and you.  This post summarizes recent posts and so much more.  May we all learn to fly.

Oh Christmas Tree…

As Christmas approaches, and as I age, I contemplate the meaning of this event…to me.  I don’t believe in Christianity…perhaps there are some good intentions and wise words passed down via the scriptures…and Jesus was indeed a sage…but is it Jesus…the man…and the wise words passed down from men that translated Jesus and God…that we are celebrating at Christmas?  Do all the Christmas songs we hear on the radio…and in the malls…celebrate Christianity and our adherence to those principles?  What exactly, does a Christmas tree have to do with Jesus?  And Santa Clause?  And the push to buy gift upon gift?  We all know retail makes their profit in the fourth quarter.  Are we in fact…just celebrating economics…capitalism?

I was sitting in my living room tonight drinking beer,  recuperating from work — I observed the Christmas tree…decorated only with white lights…not enough time to put ornaments on…the smell of fresh pine…a live tree hacked off from its roots…clipped to a bucket of water…death drying it out…yet there it is…sitting quietly…providing a pleasant scent, fresh air, and beauty.  The Christmas tree rings deep into my youthful past…Santa Clause…reindeer…song…family…presents…excitement.

But with age and experience…those youthful impressions evolve into a vague blur…and I think…what am I celebrating?  What am I honoring?  To what should I pay homage?  And then it occurs to me.  Why not the tree?  What other creature in the world gives so much to my existence asking nothing in return…than a tree…providing shade…beauty…and air to breath…transforming our carbon waste into air?  I think more…what of the river…the ocean…the wind…the clouds…the plants…the animals…the earth…the sun.  Such beauty…that enables me…and you…to exist.  And then I look back at the tree…the dying tree…hacked from its roots…only to be thrown in the dump…after the retailers have made their profits.  And I imagine…a celebration…where we put lights on a few trees in a virgin forest…lite floating candles in the river and the ocean…build a huge bonfire on the beach…feast on wild beast hunted and killed with bow and arrow… risking ones own life in the hunt…now that is something to celebrate…to pay homage to…to worship…to give thanks.