Judy and I just spent 4 1/2 days in New Orleans, a destination known among other things for its music, food, and night life. This famous city is also known for its spiritual components, all the way from very visible Catholic Traditions to the dark side of voodoo in the swamps. As we walked through the streets, I began to think, no matter how you choose to experience this universal energy we sometimes call God the one thing we can all be sure of is that it is ever present with us. Our thoughts, words, feelings, and actions lead to the manifestation of experiences in each of our worlds.
New Orleans was mine and Judy’s Christmas to each other. Over the years we have found that we like to create experiences more than things; and may I say our New Orleans trip did just that. We experienced people, food, drinks, smells, tastes, and many different emotions. The experience that still gives me chills was Dec 20, 7:00 p.m. caroling in Jackson Square with over 2000 people. These were people of all different races, beliefs, colors, ages, rich and homeless alike, holding lighted candles and singing from beautifully printed song booklets produced by the city of New Orleans. Yes some of the people were singers and some merely hummed along. Some knew all the words, others just la la la…. For about an hour we sang song after song, harmonizing together and lighting up the French Quarter with our lights and our voices.
At the end of the experience I had many thoughts, but one was definitely I had experienced the presence and power of God….the birth of the Christ….the harmonizing of the Christ Consciousness. I hope you can join us on Sunday as we discuss this a bit deeper. On this Christmas Eve I leave you with a 13th century poem called There is a Community by Rumi and (translated by Coleman Barks).
“There is a community of the Spirit. Join it and feel the delight of walking in the noisy street and being the noise. Drink all the passion and be a disgrace. Close both your eyes to see with the other eye.” The Essential Rumi.
I wish for you and your family a blessed holiday season. Namaste’, Rev. Denise