Marlow's Musings 12/22/24
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
You are likely reading this on a special eve of the Christmas season. Not Christmas Eve, rather the night before Christmas Adam. Don't know what Christmas Adam is?
More about that in a moment.
First I should mention that I'm heading out in a few minutes to open presents as a family with my wife, children, and grandchildren.
Typically, I begin writing my Musing early in the week. For this one, I wanted to ponder the season's richness and to do that, it needed to be experienced right up to these final days before Christmas.
As a result, this musing might be a bit meandering, though it is my hope that gives it more meaning. I love to sit with these ideas of Christmas and the many ways people express the meaning of this season.
"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future."
Agnes M. Pahro
Forgive your own past, believe in your present, and have hope for the future.
Whether you celebrate Christmas as a sacred spiritual time, fun with Santa, both, or even if you don't celebrate at all, it can be a time of reflection and hope.
I like what my fellow runner Dave Griffin had to say about this time of year.
"December is a time to find peace and feel hope, but those things are elusive until you stop yourself from wondering what could have been and begin dreaming about what might be."
I encourage you to take advantage of the positive framing that often occurs, as December marks the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. Your mind is already positioned to be open to new and wonderful things.
Take advantage of that and begin dreaming about what might be in 2025.
A promising step toward seeing our dreams become a reality is to imagine that they could.
Here’s to time spent dreaming about what might yet be.
I should write a philosophy of toys...
I've thought a bit lately about what Robert Lynd said regarding Christmas.
“Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.”
There is a deeper meaning here than just toys at Christmas.
It speaks to me of focusing on the right things, the essential things, the things in our life with meaning.
🧸 What would it mean to be a philosopher of toys, play, excitement, and meaning all year long?
And now to explain Christmas Adam…
It started as a conversation I had with my daughter over a quarter of a century ago. I loved her observation so much we started a family tradition based on it.
Helaina : Tomorrow is Christmas Eve right?
Dad: Yes it is.
Helaina: Then today must be Christmas Adam.
Dad: Why is that?
Helaina: Adam came before Eve and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Today must be Christmas Adam.
Each year, we celebrate Christmas Adam on the day before Christmas Eve. This simple exchange exemplifies how children's natural creativity and insight can enrich family traditions.
When we encourage and respect our children's perspectives, we discover profound wisdom in their observations. Helaina's logical connection became more than clever wordplay—it transformed into a cherished ritual that strengthens our family bonds.
Making children's ideas part of family traditions validates their unique way of seeing the world. This approach nurtures their Ikigai by creating an environment where their essential nature can flourish despite life's inevitable pressures.
Word of the Week
Agape (n.)
ə-ˈgä-(ˌ)pā/
1: Unconditional, sacrificial love
2: The highest form of love, charity, and goodwill toward others
3: Love that seeks the highest good of others without expectation of reciprocity
Agape captures something profound about the Christmas spirit. This ancient concept speaks to love's highest form—one that seeks the good of others without condition or expectation.
Humans being humane to other human beings. Agape illuminates the message of the season—expressing love that asks nothing in return.
In case you missed it…
This week there were again two Ikigai Thoughts for Today.
The first…Art of Listening
One of the most profound gifts you can give another human being is genuinely listening to them. I explore that idea and more.
Next…Unbroken
Much like a broken bowl, we suffer damage in our lives. How we respond, react, and repair makes all the difference. I explore the power of Kintsugi in restoring our Ikigai.
Ikiquest+
This week’s Coffee Contemplation…Two Questions Revisited
In this second part this three-part Coffee Contemplation, I share the deceptively simple yet life-changing reflection of The Two Questions or TQ. I’m particularly excited to share this at year’s end to supercharge the start of 2025 for you.
Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.
If you aren’t yet an Ikiquest+ Subscriber, give it a try for free by clicking the box here.
Comment of the Week:
This week’s comment is from Diane about the Thought for Today: Between Mystery and Knowing. She not only shared a marvelous comment, Diane gave it a poetic setting and structure which I’ve maintained here…
The older I become the more satisfied I am to practice sitting in the gap between now and next. It's enough for me. Usually. I find I am often repeating something my folks said: we will cross that bridge when we get to it.
I imagine I am not alone in have heard that growing up. But we rush past it......
We will
cross
that bridge
when
we get to
it
By which time we will have the skills and abilities to make our way across......
So much of life is experienced in the nuance.
Quote I’m Pondering
This thought from Howard Hunter always resonates with me at this time of year…
“This Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, and then speak it again.”
Interesting Thing Saw This Week…
For many years I’ve encouraged others to ‘do what you always talk about doing.’
This year I had a marvelous example of doing that and it brought an incredible blessing for me. I’m going to go into more detail in a Thought for Today but for now, know that I had the surprising opportunity to attend (and indirectly be in) the filming of Jeff Dunham’s latest Christmas Special.
It was filmed at the historic Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. Watching a show there is an experience in itself. You’ll notice the tall guy in the lower right-hand corner with a Santa hat…that’s me!
If you’d like to watch it, Jeff Dunham’s Scrooged Up Holiday Special is available on Amazon Prime.
My wife, daughter and son-in-law all can been seen laughing during the show, they wisely on film me only from behind.
Final Thoughts
Scrooge's nephew Fred in Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol sums up this day quite well when he says:
“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest.
But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
My fellow passengers, As Scrooge's nephew refers to us, remember this day, we are all just walking each other home.
Quest well, and Merry Christmas
Great highlights and insights...love the Adam mention as children remember the important things and creation is one. Thanks for highlighting Agape Love in a great way. We only wish that all of us can love in this way. Merry Christmas to you and the family and let's pray for a wonderful and prosperous new year 2025! "God bless us every one!"
Another holiday I get to celebrate in Christmastide! I will add this to St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucia, Winter Solstice, and after the two big Days, Holy Innocents, Epiphany, and even King Cnut's Day on the octave of Epiphany. Adam's Day! I will celebrate with something from the garden.