166 Dec. 22, 2023
Five years ago when Judy and I were contemplating starting up a shared home, I tried to find material on the subject. Finding very little that was helpful, I wrote my own book, called Dare To Share. Of course, I had a couple hundred copies run off for myself, most of which are still here. I just had a great thought: In this season of sharing, why not give most of them away? So, in an hour, I’ll hand them out downtown and offer several dozen to Novel Ideas, to be given away with each purchase. Merry Christmas!
This makes me, again, aware of how lucky I am to be living in community with others, and sadly, of how most of us are missing out on this obviously great way to live.
In song, we call this season the best time of the year. For some, this may be true, but for many it’s just the opposite. We are the most alone and paranoid society in the world. In the next two weeks we will participate in the highest suicide and stress-related illnesses of all year. This ‘Holly Jolly’ time brings our fears and isolation to the front. For many of us, it’s the worst time, by far.
It is so ironic and tragic that when most of us are supposedly within instant communication with our phones, we are so alone. And fearful. And ill. Judy and I will spend a couple of hours on Christmas morning at a local Tim Hortons, singing Christmas songs and buying coffee. We’ll pass out song books so people can sing along. Many will. What a wonderful way to begin the day, sharing it with others, especially, others we hadn’t met before.
Most of us chose, year after year, alone or in twos, to live in houses built to handle many more. For our sakes as individuals and as a species, I hope we might stop now and then and recognize the path we are following, and see once more, that there is a more life-giving Way to live, the path that is shown to us, not only at Christmas, but each day and moment.
For the bigger picture, Dare To Share is on Amazon, or stop in at Novel Ideas here in Kingston and pick up one for free.
Anthony, here, looking forward to our Christmas day, filled with singing with strangers, family, and a pot-luck dinner with many friends. —
