Month: December 2024

Categories
Celebrations

Christmas Lights

Christmas lights

Many have given up listening to the news. They are overwhelmed by the darkness and despair reported about horrific crimes, natural disasters, dismal economic forecasts, and global health crises. But Christmas is a time when people look for a break from the darkness. They pause from their routines and hope for a season of love, peace and joy.

People go to great lengths to decorate, buy the perfect gifts, and be together with family and friends. Robert and I are no exception. We have driven hundreds of miles and flown thousands of miles to be with family at Christmas.

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For Christmas 1983 we treasured the time with Robert’s relatives in Munster, Indiana despite the December 25th headline in the Chicago Tribune: “25 below! It’s misery.” Three years later we loved the time with my family in a summer and sandy Christmas gathering at the beach in Whangamata, New Zealand.

There are many traditions associated with Christmas, but central to the celebration are the lights that sparkle in candles, Christmas trees, and houses lit up with strings of Christmas lights. The lights take away the darkness and brighten our spirits. We sing carols that proclaim the light Jesus birth brought to the world. For example, the third verse of Silent Night describes Jesus as “Son of God, love’s pure light.” Even more precious are Jesus own words:

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Cancel culture has tried to rob us of the true meaning of Christmas. It offers the glitz without being plugged into the source of the light. We need to debunk this lie and freely declare that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Immanuel, God with us, is the greatest gift of all.

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19.

And there’s more good news. The light that Jesus brought to the world is not limited to Christmas day. It shines every day of the year. And those who follow Jesus are appointed to beam as His lights.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16.

So as we celebrate Christmas this year, let us bask in Jesus light and share it with all who are willing to listen.

Note

In lieu of unexpected circumstances I am skipping all blog posts for the month of January 2025. The next blog post will resume February 3, 2025.

Photo credit: Image by Couleur from Pixabay

This post was first published on December 20, 2021 on Angela Muir Van Etten’s blog at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/christmas-lights/

You may also want to read:

Good News Brings Joy. December 25, 2023. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/good-news-brings-joy/

Poinsettias and Christmas. December 12, 2022. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/poinsettias-and-christmas/

Finding Joy at Christmas. December 21, 2020. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/finding-joy-at-christmas/

Categories
Inclusion International

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

international disability day

Despite disability representing one billion of the world’s population, International Day of Persons With Disabilities (IDPD)—celebrated on December 3—is not typically included among special events in December like Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (7th), Christmas (25th), Hanukkah (25th), Kwanzaa (26th), and Boxing Day (26th). But IDPD also belongs in this December list as an occasion to remember and honor the contributions of people with disabilities.

According to Wade Lange, Founder and United Nations Ambassador for IDPD, it’s more than just an annual day. It’s a movement used to break down barriers to inclusion and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

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The World Health Organization celebrates the day by promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development.

Given the dramatic decline in my husband Robert’s health in the year of his 75th birthday, my focus on disability has shifted to those who have reluctantly entered a different level of society—residents in institutional care for rehabilitation or skilled nursing. In the facility in which Robert resides, we are surrounded by people navigating the halls using wheelchairs and walkers. Many are unable to communicate verbally, but some reach out with a smile, wave, or greeting. For the most part, Robert’s outreach is limited to words like hi and thank you. A few are able to converse. One woman mistook me for a new resident and welcomed me to the facility; another cautioned me to slow down in my scooter; and someone else told me I look like I’m 32 years old i.e. more than half my actual age of 71.

The 2024 theme of IDPD—amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future—is inappropriate for this disability segment of society. Some are like Robert and previously served countless hours in their communities as leaders on disability issues. Others are new to disability having acquired speech, memory or mobility impairments as they have aged. They don’t even see themselves as disabled. Take for example the 90-year-old woman I met when working as an advocacy specialist for an independent living center. In order to qualify for services she needed to identify as someone with a disability. However, despite using a walker to ambulate she told me she was not disabled.

So while disability advocates continue to work for funding home and community based services to meet rehabilitation and personal care needs, let’s not forget the disabled residents currently living in institutional facilities. Let’s broaden the IDPD theme to include people with disabilities whose world has narrowed to the four walls of an institution. Let’s knock down the walls of separation by visiting; helping with laundry, clothing purchases, and favorite food (within dietary restrictions); respecting their right to vote; bringing entertainment and animal encounters; honoring choices for religious activity, bed time, and the like.

So how will you broaden IDPD to include people in institutional care?

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