The Reason for the Season

Some lessons learned on board Ithaka this Christmas Season:

• Let Go and Let God...detach from the outcome....release worry. Be trusting.
• Enjoy the Journey...we'll get home when we get home. There isn't anything we can do about the weather or anything else that can delay our homecoming. Be joyful.
• Be Content Where you Are...all along we have referred to this as "discovering Ithaka"...the home of our hearts, rather than focusing on the physical place on Jewel Box Avenue in Naples. Be Loving.

Leaving schedules and agendas behind, especially at this time of year has allowed us to connect with the true essence of Christmas in a way that we never have before. It may not be the Christmases that we had when we were children...nor is it the Christmases we had when we had little children of our own. Those memories are tucked away safely in our hearts to be remembered always. Of course, it won't be easy to not see our loved ones, especially the grandchildren today, but we know we will be home soon.

~Instead something magical happened on Ithaka this holiday season...Being alone turned into a wonderful gift...and hopefully we will be bringing it home to share with everyone we love. We didn't have the usual holiday distractions. Instead we have celebrated the real reason for the season...and it is Light! Some people celebrate the Winter Solstice; a quiet, abiding faith that in our planet's stillest moment a change occurs: the days begin to get longer, a promise of more light on earth's darkest day...a metaphor for what is true and perfect. Some people celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights! Lighting the 8 candles, signifying the trust and knowing that we will always have enough. Thankful that we will never run out of what we need to light the way...and, Some of us celebrate the birth of Christ...once again knowing it was the guiding light of a star that announced his birth to the world and led the magi to his manger...it was an angel's bright light than shone from the heavens and appeared to the shepherds letting them know of our saviour's birth...the light of the world!

In the coming year, we are going to try to be the best we can be...the best spouses, the best parents, the best Mimi and Papa...the best siblings, cousins, neighbors, co-workers, real estate agents and Friends. We are going to try each day to be and share the light...to keep the reason for the season alive in our hearts all year.

So, whether you are someone we know & love or someone who happened upon our blog by chance; whether you are sharing Christmas dinner with loved ones today, or feeding the hungry at a shelter, whether you are working to serve others as a nurse, a policeman, a waitress...or a soldier far away from home...Or maybe, just maybe you are a sailor on a boat on a journey, discovering the home in your heart like us...May the love and Light that Jesus taught shine in your hearts this Christmas Day and everyday throughout the coming year...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.