To many humans, this particular cycle of daytime-nighttime is called Christmas Day. Through our beliefs and traditions we have made it a special day. Raised its status above any other day, exulted it. As we have done with Jesus or Buddha or Allah and a few others.

For some reason we feel the need to put certain people, certain days on a pedestal. It’s good, we are told, to have people to look up to, to inspire us, to set an example for us to follow.

Don’t get me wrong; Jesus, Buddha, Allah and a few others, are the indeed examples worthy of our attention. But as soon as you have leaders and followers you get divisions, you get feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. And, to be fair, these originators of world faiths actually encourage us each to be our own shining light in the world.

Many years ago, when I had just moved to Portugal, where I lived for about six years, we couldn’t start renovation work on our Quinta nor our retreat business. The weather was gorgeous and we had a lovely spot on a mountainside to explore and get to know. We effectively had an extended holiday and I came to realise that ‘every day is a holiday! Every day is a holy day!’

And so it is! Whatever particular day any individual might call it, whatever we are actually doing, every day, every moment is holy.

Life is divine. Life is sacred. To acknowledge this is to be blessed.

Every day we can show we care.

Every day is for sharing.

Happy Christmas!

May your New Year be full of holy days.