Excellent essay! Absolutely: we must reconsecrate time for precious contemplation, allowing examination of self, of nature, of time itself, cultivating an awareness of our very humanity. The cri de coeur... "We are not machines!" ... must now go further: We are human, and we must reclaim and champion what makes us fully human. This is our challenge going forward. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. Merry Christmas!
Mechanized, relentless, mindless "production"... Isn't that what we used to call "The Rat Race"? We must defend, restore and re-invigorate western civilization. Where to begin? The universities have fallen, fatally wounded. For many decades now the Humanities have succumbed to grotesque ideological delusion. They are madrasas. Perhaps we should found smaller communities of learning and contemplation modeled after medieval monasteries? I had a strange vision of this right before the covid lockdown...
Katya here. I am so delighted by the thought of leaving our Christmas lights outside until Candlemas! And where else to begin? There are so many places. In our very depressed neck of the woods on the high plains abandoned by the "economy" of the last many decades, we went grocery shopping at Walmart yesterday with our grandchild. Mind you, there are no choices here on the Oregon Trail and Walmart carries "organic" food. My granddaughter and I sing the Twelve Days of Christmas every day, and yesterday was " 6 geese a laying" as loud as we could in the aisles of such sad looking people. We played such a clever game of hide and seek from Grandpa with the cart that we brought smiles to faces that looked as if they had forgotten how to smile. Where to begin? To keep love and life and singing in our children, no matter the hardships. Home should be the loving and joyful heart of learning. As for our public schools, the children badly need foster grandparents, they are so starved of love, along with good food.
The anti-Christian forces all around us would rush us along towards goals that have come to seem normal. The Scrooge at the heart of our Woke, globalist agenda is very stingy of love, of hope, of time to play, of time to learn, of love, of joy -- so let us look strange to our neighbors, let us take open joy in the dark days of Christmastide. And may our open giving of time and love to those who need us most be ever ready and generous. Ignore the propaganda as best you can, and give love, life, play and learning to the children. And we are all children.
To Theresa I would say remember and strengthen your dream; maybe we'll avert bad times to come.
Another reading recommendation: Dickens' Hard Times, his shortest novel. Unfortunately what he describes is the system we have adopted today in our schools, businesses, and in our moral lives (most churches).
Mr. Hoffman, thank you for highlighting the discrepancies in the calendars. The "Judaizers" promote Christmas is a complete pagan invention, which ultimately diminishes or eradicates the incarnation. One of the reasons I "converted" from the evangelical tradition to the Orthodox is the liturgical calendar. Its feasts, fasts, sacraments, prayers, and lectionary, create a rhythm of life that permeates every aspect of my daily routine. It does create tension between faith and culture, which demands tough decisions.
In this post, Mr. Hoffman challenges us to evaluate success or achievement. I encourage all Christians, regardless of their tradition, to read the lives of the early Saints, especially post-apostolic - 400 A.D.; and, the 20th century martyrs under Bolshevism. According to Hebrews 11:35-40: they "were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Quite the definition of success, I would say.
Loved this article, I had no idea about the observance of the 12 days. I forwarded this interesting article to a friend and her reply added to it. She recommended pastor Allen Nolen sermon ‘ the Theological Significance the 12 Days of Christmas ( in 2 parts) This pastor explains where it started and what the 12 days symbolize. Worth the listen/watch
Excellent essay! Absolutely: we must reconsecrate time for precious contemplation, allowing examination of self, of nature, of time itself, cultivating an awareness of our very humanity. The cri de coeur... "We are not machines!" ... must now go further: We are human, and we must reclaim and champion what makes us fully human. This is our challenge going forward. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. Merry Christmas!
Eloquently stated!
Mechanized, relentless, mindless "production"... Isn't that what we used to call "The Rat Race"? We must defend, restore and re-invigorate western civilization. Where to begin? The universities have fallen, fatally wounded. For many decades now the Humanities have succumbed to grotesque ideological delusion. They are madrasas. Perhaps we should found smaller communities of learning and contemplation modeled after medieval monasteries? I had a strange vision of this right before the covid lockdown...
Visit a monastery; it will change your life.
Katya here. I am so delighted by the thought of leaving our Christmas lights outside until Candlemas! And where else to begin? There are so many places. In our very depressed neck of the woods on the high plains abandoned by the "economy" of the last many decades, we went grocery shopping at Walmart yesterday with our grandchild. Mind you, there are no choices here on the Oregon Trail and Walmart carries "organic" food. My granddaughter and I sing the Twelve Days of Christmas every day, and yesterday was " 6 geese a laying" as loud as we could in the aisles of such sad looking people. We played such a clever game of hide and seek from Grandpa with the cart that we brought smiles to faces that looked as if they had forgotten how to smile. Where to begin? To keep love and life and singing in our children, no matter the hardships. Home should be the loving and joyful heart of learning. As for our public schools, the children badly need foster grandparents, they are so starved of love, along with good food.
The anti-Christian forces all around us would rush us along towards goals that have come to seem normal. The Scrooge at the heart of our Woke, globalist agenda is very stingy of love, of hope, of time to play, of time to learn, of love, of joy -- so let us look strange to our neighbors, let us take open joy in the dark days of Christmastide. And may our open giving of time and love to those who need us most be ever ready and generous. Ignore the propaganda as best you can, and give love, life, play and learning to the children. And we are all children.
To Theresa I would say remember and strengthen your dream; maybe we'll avert bad times to come.
Another reading recommendation: Dickens' Hard Times, his shortest novel. Unfortunately what he describes is the system we have adopted today in our schools, businesses, and in our moral lives (most churches).
Is it illegal yet to go caroling on a public street at Christmas?
Mr. Hoffman, thank you for highlighting the discrepancies in the calendars. The "Judaizers" promote Christmas is a complete pagan invention, which ultimately diminishes or eradicates the incarnation. One of the reasons I "converted" from the evangelical tradition to the Orthodox is the liturgical calendar. Its feasts, fasts, sacraments, prayers, and lectionary, create a rhythm of life that permeates every aspect of my daily routine. It does create tension between faith and culture, which demands tough decisions.
In this post, Mr. Hoffman challenges us to evaluate success or achievement. I encourage all Christians, regardless of their tradition, to read the lives of the early Saints, especially post-apostolic - 400 A.D.; and, the 20th century martyrs under Bolshevism. According to Hebrews 11:35-40: they "were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Quite the definition of success, I would say.
Blessed Nativity to everyone.
Loved this article, I had no idea about the observance of the 12 days. I forwarded this interesting article to a friend and her reply added to it. She recommended pastor Allen Nolen sermon ‘ the Theological Significance the 12 Days of Christmas ( in 2 parts) This pastor explains where it started and what the 12 days symbolize. Worth the listen/watch