One small thing – The "birth" within us.

Invitations, nights out, meals, decorations, gifts, wishes, a chance to wear our best clothes, set a festive table, bring out the good dishes, feel the joy and magic through the lights and songs. All of this is part of the celebration and I love it very much. But there is another part that I think we forget. To feel the true spirit of Christmas.

“Mom, there is no Santa Claus,” my son tells me many years ago, when he came home from daycare. At that time, I was decorating the Christmas tree. He catches me off guard - something almost all children do when they ask something serious - and expects to know the truth. “Yes, I answer him. There is no Santa Claus like the one we see, the plump old man with the white beard and red clothes in a sleigh from the North Pole who brings gifts from the fireplace. Because first, we don’t have a fireplace. And second, you won’t see any flying sleighs. However, there was a man named Basil who lived in Caesarea…”, and I began to tell him the story of the real man who is honored as a Saint by our religion.

“…if it is your definition, the Divine birth of Christ…” say the Christmas carols. But which birth? What if I do not believe or if I doubt the existence of God? What if I see that religions create more problems and I believe that sacred texts are not based on scientifically proven truths? Perhaps, ultimately, it is not so important to find external evidence, but to seek what meaning the concept of the Divine or higher power gives to each person personally. Perhaps for this reason we can approach the Divine Birth through a more symbolic lens — as an opportunity to awaken and cultivate the Divine within us so that we can live with more love, connection and understanding.

On Christmas Day, before I go to the family Christmas table and celebrate those celebrating and before it even starts to rain, I go out for a walk in the park. I stop at the little chapel to light a candle. “In his poem “God,” Victor Hugo mentions that God has only one name, which is love. I believe that the true spirit of Christmas goes beyond its religious or festive dimension and is connected to the very concept of Birth. It is an opportunity to ask ourselves: what do we really want to “birth” in our lives that has nothing to do with our egoistic self. This period calls us to give form to what is essential to us and to bring it into the world with Love – this love that comes from the adverb “ἄγαν” which in ancient Greek means “much” and “pa” which means to protect, to preserve and is more than a feeling but a prerequisite, Hope – the strength that one has within oneself in moments of despair, Faith – not in the sense of ignorance but that which keeps you upright, Mystery – as interiority, Peace – primarily within ourselves.

So, let us manage to feel the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts. May the bright star illuminate our path and may the gifts be our connection to the soul, spirit and body, which are interconnected.

PS: the relationship with the divine and spirituality is a personal relationship and choice for each of us.