Open Wardrobes

The show is over, Chinese is finished for the semester, and just a few working days left until Christmas break (yes, I actually get a Christmas break!). Last night the Christmas tree went up (it has lights but no ornaments as of yet) and Kelly and I made gingerbread mooses (meese?) for the holiday party at work. OK, OK, so Kelly made them and I just chipped in on the decorations (thanks to me some of the mooses have eyebrows). At any rate, the iPod is playing Christmas tunes, the presents are (mostly) bought and waiting to be wrapped, and we will spend much of next week journeying from family gathering to family gathering (all here in the Cities which makes it easy). And there will be time to rest.


For me Christmas has real meaning beyond the decorations and gifts, and even the time with family and friends. It is a time of Joy, of Peace, of Love, a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior. With great family and friends the Love and Joy have certainly not been lacking, but the Peace... It has been a busy year, between work, taking some classes, doing 3 shows (more than I've done in one year for awhile), putting the finishing touches on one play, revising another, and starting a new one from scratch. Oh yes, and prepping the novel for Lulu, not to mention all the projects around the house and just generally living life.


Don't get me wrong, it's been a great year and Kelly and I have had wonderful times (for the younger set, here's a tip: marry someone who is your best friend and makes you laugh, you'll never be bored again). But at times the year has been lacking in Peace. It's my own fault, really, I'm one of those people who must always be doing something. But sometimes the more you try and do, the less you actually get done. We all need time to rest and recharge, which often means saying "No" to something you'd really like to do, remembering you just can't do it all.


So while I have things I'd like to get done over the next two weeks I will try and remember that not all of it needs to be done, at least right now. Instead, time with family and friends, curling up with a good book, and remembering a peaceful night 2000 years ago which heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace, these are the sorts of things that are truly important right now. The rest can wait.