holiday – Page 4

Memorial Day: Elephants in the Cemetery

On Memorial Day, an elephant and her calf are shaded by trees as ducks and geese waddle by the pond at Milton Cemetery.  The life-size topiaries are covered in ivy, and the symbolism of their deep family bonds and long memories are the reasons for their art installation in this place of remembrance.  Elephants never […]

Easter: Jesus appears first to a woman

[Painting, “Mary Magdalene at the Crucifixion” by Francesco Hayez] For Christians, Easter is a miraculous promise of love kept, because Jesus resurrected, as foretold, three days after his undeniable death by crucifixion.  Yet, as if coming back to life isn’t enough, here’s an added kicker for me. Jesus chose to appear first to a woman. […]

What “Merry Christmas” means

Merry Christmas! It’s a greeting that celebrates light in a too-dark world. For Christians, the heartbeat of Jesus Christ’s message is humility and service. “Merry Christmas” is about love triumphing against all odds.  Consider that the King of Kings was born among the poorest holding lineage with the most persecuted of people. The Nativity story […]

Healing Veterans in Nature: House in the Woods

[Photo from http://houseinthewoods.org – House In the Woods in Lee, Maine] All veterans were prepared for the ultimate sacrifice. They grieve for comrades lost, and too often, endure lifelong hauntings through PTSD. They endure disabilities and emotional scars. For all veterans, Paul and Dee House, along with Bill and Quie Emery, created a refuge amidst the […]

Easter: Nothing is impossible

Easter.  As a kid, I imagined a wooden cross and golden sunlight piercing through purple clouds. I grew up jaded on words like “resurrection” and “redemption,” which felt as distant as lavender skies. Now I feel differently. The good news of Christianity is that nothing is impossible with God.  For Christians, Jesus Christ’s resurrection is […]