Peace on Earth, goodwill towards all – once more with feeling!

A post I wrote 4 years ago entitled Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men: wouldn’t that be nice! is getting renewed interest during this special season. Written four long years ago now.  Long before the January 6 riots in the U.S.  Long before we had even heard of COVID, or wearing masks, social distancing, anti-vaxxers, and “circuit breakers”.  Long before Mother Nature made it abundantly clear, over and over again, that climate change was real and was going to wreak havoc across the planet.  Before the Truckers Convoy in Ottawa. And before Putin decided he’d destroy and destabilize the lives of millions upon millions by invading Ukraine, for no valid reason but to assuage his own ego. Four years on and the message hasn’t changed, it’s only grown more urgent. As many of us celebrate the messages of hope brought by Chanukah and Christmas, let’s stop to think about how we can play our part in bringing peace on earth, goodwill towards all, even if it’s just within our own communities.  We have to start somewhere.

Before I let that 4-year old post speak for itself – because the message hasn’t really changed – let me repeat the reminders I prefaced this repost with last year. Let me remind you of just how powerful a smile can be to someone who is struggling with exhaustion, loneliness, or despair.  Let me remind you of just how powerful a simple “thank you” can be to someone who’s serving a sometimes testy public from behind a mask in these stressful times.  These small gifts are among the best thing we can give to others, and also the best things we can receive.  Kindness and helping each other is what makes life worthwhile, the little things that help people feel connected and appreciated during such uncertain times.  Give the gift of kindness today and every day.  You’ll feel much better.

And now for a reblog from Dec 23, 2018 of Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men: wouldn’t that be nice! (with some minor updates):

It’s the Christmas season. Whether you lean more towards spiritual traditions or secular ones – or both – it’s the time when songs and greeting cards ring out with heartwarming messages of Peace, Joy, Love, and Goodwill towards all.  Hmm. I’m sorry to say this – very sad, indeed – but surely I’m not the only one thinking that these are pretty hollow words this year.  What peace?  What joy?  Within families, one can hope.  Within communities, definitely possible.  But the world at large doesn’t even seem to be pretending to be working towards peace and joy at the moment.  We’ve been plugging holes in the metaphorical dykes, but as soon as one hole is plugged, another one seems to start leaking – or gushing. A world order based on cooperation, compassion, and compromise has become a pipe dream.

So what can an individual do to give renewed credibility to these important messages of peace, love, joy, and goodwill to all? We can only do so much, but we can do some things.  We can start by nurturing ourselves.  We can work harder to find ways to concentrate on positive activities instead of dwelling on (valid) reasons for despair.  We can reach out to others in our community to spread positive and supportive thoughts and deeds.  [And when it comes time to vote, we can ask the right questions and then vote for the parties whose policies encourage peace on earth, goodwill towards all.]

One of my favourite Leonard Cohen songs (and I have several) speaks powerfully to the challenges we currently face. These lyrics are the refrain from his 1992 song, “Anthem”; in Cohen’s own compelling way he reminds us that there is always hope in the darkness:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

And a recent blog post by Joyce Hopewell, in her blog Eyes in the back of my Head, offers some very good advice for how each of us can contribute to letting the light back in:

“So here are some suggestions of what you and I could do at this time of year to bring light into our lives, and the lives of others around us:

• Light a candle – simple and easy – remember the saying that it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
• Call a friend – reconnect with someone you’ve not been in touch with for a while.
• Perform a random act of kindness – just do it!
• Take a risk and smile at strangers as you walk down the street – this one is very rewarding.
• Say hello to someone you don’t know – you could follow up the smile with this one.
• Glow with joy and a warmth of spirit…and it will come back to you in spades.

 And may the warmth of friendship be wrapped around you at this time of year.” 

With these thoughts in mind, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. My desire for all of us is that by this time next year – somehow, some way – the seasonal wishes of Peace, Joy, Love, and Goodwill to all will not seem as hollow as they do at this moment. May our hope be restored.