Two Cups of Tea at Hope’s Cafe
We live not far from Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited national park in the United States .Nestled midst the thriving tourist sites of Gatlinburg and Dollywood is the village of Townsend, TN, billed as “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies,” for its much smaller area, quieter tempo and peaceful atmosphere. Its corollary in this holiday season would be “The Peaceful Side” of Christmas, otherwise known as Christmastide, the Twelve Days of Christmas beginning December 25 through January 5.
The weeks leading up to Christmas day are often characterized by hurrying and scurrying to prepare for Christmas celebrations. Christmastide is something of a “second chance,” an opportunity to reclaim the meaning of the season, to behave in accordance with that meaning.
Long intrigued with Boxing Day, December 26, also known as St Stephen’s Day, I thought it was a day for visiting friends and neighbors with baked goods or other gifts. Apparently it indeed has evolved where Boxing Day is another aspect of the festivities. However, Boxing Day in Britain began as an act of offering a “Christmas box,” presents or gratuities, to tradespeople and employees. An earlier tradition in Britain involved the wealthy allowing their servants off work to visit their families on the day after Christmas.
The concept of Boxing Day would seem to have originated from late Roman and early Christian eras when alms boxes were placed in the narthex of churches to collect offerings tied to the Feast of St. Stephen. The later European tradition of giving money or gifts to those in need dates to the Middle Ages.
Perhaps at our core we recognize our responsibility to one another. Admittedly, we too readily return to the busy routines of our daily lives. But if we can think of Christmastide, these twelve days, as a time to unwind from all the hubbub, maybe we can take some moments to breathe deeply, take stock and reorder our priorities. Maybe we can begin to incorporate Charles Dickens’ intention into our awareness and our behavior: “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
The invitation is open to share two cups of tea anytime at Hope’s Café or anywhere you share companionship and conversation.
May we bearers of hope, the “wait staff” at Hope’s Café, for each other and all those we encounter. Shalom, Kate
Hope's Cafe 