mele kalikimaka :)

A marvelous (and belated) Christmas to all!

We were busy bees here on the island, and I've been just a little lazy.. hence the lack-there-of posts.

Although the day is past, I do wish to share something that has been on my mind in relation to Christmas and all. On Christmas eve, my family got all dressed up, and went to mass at a little church here in Kihei. This was a little change of tradition seeing as we usually go to an early morning mass on Christmas morning at a church in Lahaina (*note: we have never actually gotten a seat in the Lahaina church, so we always have sat outside with everyone else who slept in and didn't arrive early. I'll be the first to tell you that this experience is lacking in a few areas.. ) 

I am not a very faithful or religious person. I have always detested going to church, (for reasons not even worth mentioning) and would not have cared at all if we skipped out on this tradition. This year however, was a little different, and a lot more eye opening. 

To sum it up, the priest used dummy proof visuals (by this, I mean a large sign) to present two vastly different definitions of what Christmas is supposed to mean. One side of the sign showed the largely printed word "Presents", surrounded by decorations. The media has shoved this definition in our faces for many years, but I feel my generation has been so completely immersed in this false sense of holiday spirit that many people do actually believe that December 25 is solely about what you give, and what you receive. The other side of the sign represented the visually similar, but contrasting word "Presence." The priest used his time to try and explain to everyone at mass that the simple act of BEING PRESENT is not addressed during the holidays. Spending time with people you care about whether it is your family, your peers, your friends.. should be the thing you are focused on, not the gifts. 

This simple, effective piece of posterboard made me think that night. I hope that in some way, I was able to articulate what the priest was trying to tell me, and that whoever reads this.. thinks about how they spent their Christmas. I believe that a little love is all someone needs during the holidays, and there is no price tag on that (except maybe a plane ticket!)

Therefore..

Lesson #5: Be present for someone, it's never too late.

All for now,

Aimee OC