Adventures at Rasa Ranch #148

[Guest guest]

12/12/03

 

Last night's Christmas concert was fun. In the van on the way over

Ananda complained of a funny feeling in her middle. She learned all

about the butterflies, how most everybody gets them before they go on

stage, and how they go away all by themselves just like they came, the

moment we feel the music in our hearts. Apparently, she forgot all

about them because she was just her normal, natural, sweet and funny

self when she went up to sing.

 

She waved at us twice. Later, I'd asked her if she put lots of love

into the songs and she said she forgot about that. What's funny was

that she didn't have to remember. While she was up there in her red

corduroy dress and white tights, she *was* the living embodiment of

love! And so was everybody else. Funny, how that is.

 

This morning, the parents were asked to attend a Christmas assembly

with their kids. Jim had to work, so it was just me. It was pretty

religious, and that's not exactly our style. The whole time someone

was reading a scripture from the Bible, Ananda was pestering me for

something to eat. There was to be some kind of a

purification/merging with the light/sharing the light ritual for

everyone to take part in, involving candles and the like, but my kids

had no interest in it whatsoever. All Ananda wanted was her lunchbox

out in the hallway and all Zacky wanted was to pull his sister's

hair, so we made our graceful exit when everyone stood up to partake

of the ceremony.

 

Seated on the cold, tile floor out in the hall amongst all the coats

and shoes with my kids eating their little picnic of last night's

potstickers, I could hear the beautiful flute and cello background

music coming from the assembly. I had a few thoughts about how we

were supposed to be in there with everybody, being good, being

purified, and I had to laugh. We were just being ourselves. And it

*was* pure, we *were* the light; we were the light of the lobby! And

we shared that light, and also the potstickers, with the few other

children who had also found their way out the back door like we had.

I have to say, it ranked high amongst the most memorable religious

ceremonies I have ever not attended.