Season of Hope?

Regardless of your faith – or non-faith – the beginning of December is a stark time of change. In America Thanksgiving is past and Christmas preparations are in full swing. Have been really for the past 5 weeks. Maybe longer than that, before Halloween?

In the rest of the world the seasonal shifts in weather mark a cooler, damper period where we focus on indoors. Life among family and friends. Warmth and…snugness, maybe? A time of gathering. A time for sharing thoughts and emotions and friendship.

Circadian rhythms aside change demands attention. Whether it is war or an election, or a new invention or traffic obstacles grown too dire, we are asked to make decisions. Those in authority are expected to make decisions. Whether they do or not seems not the point. We still expect change yet dread the hell of it!

And so mythologies grow to assuage our dread, our unsteadiness in face of change.

With a little thought – and I do mean a little! – we fear the change even more then feel the need to find fault with it. ‘Who did this?’ ‘Who wasn’t paying attention and allowed this change to loom over us?’ Now that’s more like it. Blame. Such a comfort at a time like this. Change is to be feared. Shout it from the rooftops and every media outlet. Then find someone to blame.

The new sports season begins. It is pundit season. It is year-end dramatic summaries of what’s good, what is bad, what looms and strikes terror in our hearts. But first a word from our sponsor – ‘Have you tried our new beer products? No? Why haven’t you? They will calm the restless soul buried deep inside your quaking presence. A little drop will do you. Of course you’ll need to store up a big supply for your neighbors, family and friends. And of course more drops to do you in the meanwhile.’

Well now, we are prepared for the new season to begin. What to expect? What to fear? What to seek solace from? Aah! The new beer product, or was that a sour mash whiskey? Either one will do. Now where are the glasses and ice? That’s better. Now, where was I? Oh yes, the season begins. What’s the schedule? Which channel is carrying the live action?

Well on Channel 2 we have Congress. Channel 5 will carry the legislature. City Hall meetings are on Channel 10, you know that local volunteer channel?! Let’s see, Channel 7 has the District Court proceedings with live witness testimony behind blackout screens, of course. Now what’s on PBS? Oh yeah, reruns of Nova. Well there is escape value in that!

Of course on Sundays we forsake the TV and attend church services to catch an update on what we are supposed to believe and do. 49 minutes later we return to the real world and boy is it different than what we saw and heard in the pew! Now there’s a need for change. But whose? Mine or theirs? Or the church?

Now where was I? Change? Season? Sports? Authority processes? I can’t remember. In fact I don’t want to remember. What to do?

Oh year, where’s the football game schedule?  When are the Bears playing? And who will beat them this time?

All I need is the recliner, the TV, and the sour mash. And Football. Yes. Now that’s change I can manage.

December 1, 2014