This year for the first time I had the pleasure of driving to Niagara on the Lake to spend Christmas Day with all our family at my parent’s new house. It’s a tranquil place backing onto the Four Mile Creek reservoir. I’ve talked about it before. It’s one of my new Zen places. The pleasure in the drive was not the actual car ride, busy holiday traffic, nor my sleeping adult boys, but the time it allowed me to listen to my compiled Dan Gibson’s Solitudes Christmas playlist. This reflection got me into contemplating about the Nature of Christmas.
The most important part of Christmas in my family is being able to spend precious time together, a rare commodity. It’s not about the gifts, the commercialism, or the hype. It is the one time of the year where we get together to embrace in family companionship and, as Christmas goes, so does the act of gift making.
Our gifting has translated over the years and is now about giving back. This year our gift was in knowing children in other countries will be assisted with food, clean water and school supplies through Plan Canada. As well, orphan baby elephants are being fostered in Kenya through a wonderful organization, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where we are the proud sponsors of over 14 orphan baby elephants. I also had the privilege of sharing with my parents one of my give backs, a video entitled Our Africa Experience 2015. It chronicled their recent trip to the Foundation in the summer and will compliment a book I recently published about the trip.
As I was driving, I was dwelling on the Nature of Christmas amongst the small talk in the car. I believe strongly in putting nature back into Christmas; a sort of returning to our family roots. To some that may only extend to the live evergreen tree in their family home. The difference this year is that this idea was emphasized by our green Christmas. While I live in the outdoors year round, I do love a white Christmas. It is the time of year when the crisp whiteness reminds me that an old year has past and that we have a clean slate for the upcoming year. A fresh new beginning, sort of speak. I will write about this further in future.
It also means that I get to take time to revitalize in, and revel at, our natural environment. Being able to spend time up north, hiking or snowshoeing in the back woods, watching the white landscape, and engaging in one of my passions, photography. It’s amazing what you can see if you watch… whether it be outside posing that perfect picture or in what is happening daily in our own lives. Change is happening daily and, just like photography, we often just miss that special moment that will never happen again.
Time is fleeting. We need to take more time to be more watchful and reflective. We’re all guilty of not doing it. Before we know it, special moments do pass and we can never revisit them. That is what the Nature of Christmas means to me. That is why we continue the family tradition of spending time together outdoors and appreciating our natural heritage. It is a small time in the year when we can leave the stressful and high pressure world we live in and unwind. We, in our own way, reflect on what is really important in our lives, our family, our friends and our close relationships.
So whether we are sitting around a real Christmas tree or decorating our outdoor trees for the occasion, we are centred on nature and the important elements of the Christmas season. Be thankful for all we are blessed with. Reminisce in past accomplishments. Focus on future ambitions. Most importantly, spend time with your loved ones. That was my reflection on my drive to Niagara on the Lake. Whether I am up north or in Niagara, the important message is that I can relax in the arms of my family and truly feel blessed by the Nature of Christmas.
