The Season of Reflection and Connection

Dear Friends,

It is Christmas Day, and wherever we live and whatever our faith is, this is a season of reflection and connection. I find the reflection part this year harder than usual, which won't be a surprise if you have followed my writings this year.

I find it hard to celebrate the warmth of the holidays amid the chilling reality of a heating planet that affects lives across the globe. The past year was full of new climate records; these were not broken but smashed in ways I have never seen before. It's a year of communities displaced, ecosystems disrupted, and the most vulnerable among us bearing the brunt of these changes.

I find it hard to celebrate the warmth of the holidays while others are caught in the crossfires of conflict instigated by cold-blooded leaders terrorizing civilians, leaving scars that persist for generations.

This season, let's spare a thought for those living in zones of climate or conflict, yearning for better times, peace, and stability.

Yet, even in the face of reflecting on these challenges, there's room for hope. And that's where the connection part comes in. Our collective actions, no matter how small, can contribute to positive change because the threats to our stable world are just as well the summing up of many smaller-scale choices made.

If you believe in democracy, a conviction that I admit is challenged in these frightening times but shouldn't be abandoned since we have no better alternative, you should also believe in the power of supporting initiatives that combat climate change and advocate for peace.

You can be an agent of progress; you may feel small, but never forget we have power in numbers.

And that is where hope comes in. Hope gives this season warmth, especially when combined with the spirit of sharing and connecting.

In the season to exchange gifts and share moments of joy, we should also make it the season to share a commitment to a better world. I believe in a better world where nature's beauty is preserved, and conflicts are resolved through dialogue, reason, and compassion. I believe in a world where everyone can experience the warmth of safety and security and where love wins from darkness.

I hope this holiday season inspires us to be compassionate stewards of our planet, advocates for peace, and champions of positive change.

I took this photo about an hour ago, in the last daylight, in the dunes close to my home. Most of the colors are gone. And so are the flowers, visitors, ponies, and deer. But I love it this way. I treasure the solitude of nature; the photo above shows you where I thought about what I would write to you today.

And I thought about the light that will return after the darkest days. I hope the light returns, and when it does, I hope my other hopes will also come true.

It is Christmas Day, and wherever we live on this small but diverse planet, whatever our faith is, this is a season of reflection and connection. I wish you all a joyous and purposeful holiday season filled with hope, harmony, and the spirit of sharing, empathy, and compassion.

Warm regards, Alexander