Bird Droppings December 20, 2024
It is the small pieces that seriously matter, not how many presents

I was driving around and reading a holiday post or two. One caught my attention, arguing the idea of Santa’s gifts. Santa is first a legend contrived over the years and developed sadly to be more of a marketing tool than anything resembling the original St. Nicolaus who would simply give gifts on Christmas. I have become callous in terms of the holiday shopping frenzy. As a scholar of theology in another lifetime, the first Christian traditional Christmas gifts were symbolic representations of life, not that they weren’t precious or had value. Still, symbolism was more significant at the time of writing the scriptures.

I read about a competition at Christmas time to see who can give the best. I grew up in a household where every Christmas, there was a pile, not because we were wealthy or well-to-do but because my parents would give freely. My dad would give literally all the time. In my teaching, I often bring donuts or food in the morning, which has led to a room full nearly every day. I try to give of myself every day still today where ever my journey takes me.

“Until you can clearly see each piece of the puzzle, you will never be able to understand the whole.” Frank Bird, grandfather, teacher, and ponderer

I am sitting here on the Friday before Christmas week 2024 in Between Georgia, a long way from my birthplace and even where I spent my youth in Pennsylvania. I have traveled many pathways, spiritually, educationally, emotionally, and physically as I journeyed. It has been many years since a vision of a jigsaw puzzle woke me from my sleep. Over the years, I have used that image of puzzle pieces and a whole puzzle to explain life and its intricacies. My son added to my collection of ideas along the way nearly twelve years ago with a line from an Aerosmith song.

“Life is about the journey, not the destination.” Steven Tyler and Aerosmith

I went outside to get a few shots of the sunrise, as I do on most mornings. I may have been moving and thinking slowly, but I got at least one or two good images to post. As I drove about for a few minutes, several ideas kept hitting me in the head. Literally every day, I hear from someone. It could be a former student, a total stranger who read something I have written, a friend I have not seen in fifty years, maybe a member of a group I am in on Facebook, a cohort member from graduate school offering a thank you for a thought I shared, or idea given. It is not about major successes but the small pieces that often float unnoticed.

I found that listing my somewhat ambiguous titles with the quote above, grandfather first, seemed just the right thing to do. As I sat back and pondered, as I tend to do often, it became not only the right thing but also job one. It is we elders who provide wisdom and understanding, even if in small ways, to those who come after. In today’s hectic and helter-skelter world, moments get lost just like pieces to the puzzle.

So today, as I do every day, please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts, and give thanks namaste.
My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,
Mitakuye Oyasin
(We are all related)
bird