+ We sce

DECEMBER is a
month that for many
Years has been a time
of celebration and
important spiritual!
observances around
the world.

Even people who have no
special religious connections
are caught up in the changes

appening — the scl-
stice which marks the grad-

*. ual return of longer daylight
hours and traditional cele-.
brations marked by: green-
ery, lights and music.

Seniors especially can .
remember. Christmas from
the past when life was sim-
pier and frmilies were closer
together.” : .

”, Fifty or 60 years ag0,
most Canadians were .
Christians and attended '
-church regularly. Nowadays

Christian: churches see

Sharing a. Vision:
: Of Health

as people explore other faith
traditions or have no con-
nection with any organized
religion.

In addition, new
Canadians from other cul-
tures have brought a variety

’ of religious traditions to our
_country.

For instance, fews cele-
brate. Hanukkah, the Feast
of Lights, which commemo-
rates the dedication of a
temple that was destroyed in
165 B.C. Enough oil was
found to keep a sacred flame
lit for eight days.

“Muslims celebrate

_ Ramadan, which this year
Began on Dec. 9. Adherents

to the faith observe this.
time by fasting from:dawn

; to’sunset for a month.’

© Western Christians, of |

“course, observe Dec. 25 as

the birth of Jesus, although

there i is some ‘question ; as to”

the.exact date: -
Again, the return of the

ight to earth is symbolic of

the ongoing changes that

:\amark our connections to the

greater universe: 3: 2"
ethodox Christians, on
the other hand, celebrate
Chiistmas ‘on: Jan. 7. Sikhs’ °
and. Hindus also recognize:

the Fhe Tighe to he

ciices and. community,
fiad that ‘most of us get

caight up in activities that. -

don’t’ Feall add to our.

drop a

« Sensors”

‘North Building,
-Oucens Ra, North Van, B. coe

ca i ee ee

‘Things like shopping, enter-
taining, unnecessary cook-
ing, eating and drinking do
not reflect haw we all value
friends and family, and the
wonderful, if not miraculous
return of the light to our
part of the world.

And as we grow older,
we become even more aware
of the importance of our
family and our friends.

We may also find that we
have less energy than we
used to, and family members
and friends may be far away.

Several years ago I
attended a workshop at the
North Shore Unitarian
‘Church called Unplug the
Christmas Machine. . ~

We looked at all the
things that make this season
special for everyone and we
finished by signing the
Christmas Pledge:

Believing in the beauty
and simplicity of Christmas,
I commit myself to the fol-
lowing:

WW to remember those peopte -
who truly need my gifts;

@ to express my love for fam-
ily and friends in more direct
ways than presents;

@ to rededicate myself to the.
spiritual growth of my fami-
V5

@.to examine my holiday

activities in light of the crue

spirit. of Christmas, and
to initiate one.

Mary Segat is. coordinator
of. Lionsview >. -. Seniors’

Planning: Society. Ideas. for:
*). future columns ave welcome

“Contact Segal at 985-3852 or .
ine to’ Lionsview

Planning - Society,

600:

VIN. 213.

act of |
peacemaking within .my ‘cir-"

_ cle of family. and friends. :

_ | wish all of my readers a.
joyous holiday season and

_may we all sec more peace in

_ the year 2000. :

DECEMBER ii is atime to belleve In the

to retiect ston the importance ot friends

offers caring sti
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