It looks like winter is here, but out in sunny coastal California, we will not have snow to mark the Winter solstice. There will be many celebrations in the small town where I live, however: Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Festival of Lights, the whole Santa Clause thing, and even a Wiccan observation out in a farmer's field away from city lights where the stars will be magnificent.

Santa, by the way, has visited every neighborhood, riding in the town trolley with various elected officials, escorted by the police and fire department vehicles, all decorated in colored lights. The procession moved from block to block, stopping to give out stuffed animals to children called outside in the dark by the sirens and bells. It was an interesting spectacle, but I wonder how well that would have gone in a more urban or inner city neighborhood?

Meanwhile, I wish you peace, joy and happiness in whatever way you celebrate the season! It is quite amazing how similar all these various beliefs, religious and non, are in their approach to making peace in the world!

Here's the latest article from the Baha'i site at BellaOnline.com.

Tis the Season
The major holiday season in the Northern Hemisphere is upon us. Here for your consideration are some ways to be a part of making Peace on Earth.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art31005.asp

Do visit bahai.bellaonline.com for more articles--and share how you celebrate at this time of year--in free online discussions at the community forum located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=321

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!


Cheryll Schuette, Baha'i Editor
http://bahai.bellaonline.com

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