bogeyandruby

A close friend responded to my December 12th blog entry, the one where I fret over which floral center piece would go best with my table accessories for Christmas dinner this year.

She said the decorations were just glitter. I already had the Christmas spirit by hosting dinner for those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.

“The true spirit of Christmas is a simple story of two refugees who were denied entry everywhere they went except in a barn full of animals (aren’t we still seeing this in the world today?). This couple that no one wanted to welcome gave birth to a simple message – ‘love thy neighbour’. That is Christmas.”

I grew up in a secular household with mixed-race parents of different faiths. As such, we lacked the kind of structural framework that the tenets of religion provide. There was no sense of community or belonging. In truth, whenever I was exposed to it, religion made me feel uncomfortable and excluded.

That being said, my parents managed to teach us basic values: love, kindness, and generosity. My Sikh father in particular introduced us to the notion of langar, or community kitchen, and that is why I feel compelled to invite people to my table and feed them, despite the fact that I am an introvert and do not cook. It is my way of honouring his memory and making sure no one feels excluded at this time of year.

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I am thinking of Jewish friends, acquaintances and extended family members who are reeling from the deadly attack on a Jewish community celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi beach in Australia. I don’t know what else to say except that my heart is with you. ❤️