Zen and the Art of Christmas

I have just returned from a last minute Christmas shopping trip to Knox. While this would normally be a nightmare for me (and most other people) two days before Christmas, I was surprised to find it a somewhat “spiritual” experience.

This is, of course, partly due to the fact that the majority of our Christmas shopping is wrapped and under the tree already. My truly favourite way to shop is at the late Thursday night shopping nights at Sassafras and Olinda. “Yes, I’d love a glass of bubbly, or taste of ginger drink, or whatever, while I choose a few gifts”. This year, even this wore a bit thin for a certain munchkin after an hour or so, so the latter half of the night was somewhat messier. Hence the need for the last minute dash to Knox. A pressie for hubby. Somehow, I’d left the most important person until last.

As I watched everyone at the shopping centre rush around, make frantic calls on mobiles and wait in queues at Harvey Norman, I felt strangely distant from it all. I looked at a couple of things hubby might like, made a few enquiries and wandered into Borders where I discovered a gorgeous little book, The Alphabet of the Human Heart, The A-Zen of Life, by Matthew Johnstone and James Kerr. Tucked up in a cosy chair, I spent a quiet 20 minutes, surrounded by the usual Christmas shopping chaos, reminding myself of the important things in life. While I didn’t purchase it on this visit, it will probably end up in my library at some stage, perhaps at a more appropriate moment.

And this is perhaps one of the most important things about Christmas that we sometimes forget in all the mayhem – to remember the important things in life – family, friendship, giving, sharing, spending time together. Tonight I told my son the story about the birth of a baby who grew up to be a very important man – one who had a message about love, caring for each other, peace in the world. Whether you choose to be an avid follower of this particular man, or just enjoy the occasion surrounding his birth, it is hard to deny the importance of such a message.

Hopefully those friends, family and colleagues who received my Christmas Story Starter Cards trial this year will also receive something special that is not “Made in China” – the stories, experiences, laughter, tears and memories of those who are closest to them. I am looking forward to sharing them with my own family and friends over the next few days.

By the way, I did get a rather nice something for hubby, after waiting in a queue to pay at Harvey Norman.

“May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white”.

xox Cath