Hello Everybody,
I am brand new to this Community and so far, I love it.
So far, I have not taken advantage of much, but I thought I would write a blog, especially since I am just now beginning to understand what Bettina Network Hedge Schools and being a part of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community means. I wasn’t sure when I first discovered all of you, but having stayed at a Hedge School, the concept and its execution are really fantastic.
First, I have to tell you that I am Jewish.
Why is that important for you to know?
Because I have always wanted to know what it was like being a part of a “Christian” Christmas and I think that is true of many of us. I was not looking to convert or anything else, just to satisfy my curiosity.
From the time I was a very small child, the trees, the toys in the decorated stores and all the rest made me wish to be a part of that – and so this year I took the plunge. As a start, I called Bettina Network to see what they offered – fully expecting them to hang-up on my request, but instead we made reservations. I’ve had three days of magic and I am leaving for home this morning with all of my questions answered and a new way of looking at life understanding others, but especially understanding how rich and full a word like “diversity” means and what it has to offer all of us. I don’t know how this sounds to many of you, but it is where I am at the moment and the reason for my writing this blog.
When I arrived at my Bettina Network Hedge School, I slept in a room with my own Christmas tree; celebrated around the tree in the family’s living room; went to Church with them on Christmas morning and to dinner as a part of the family on Christmas afternoon and into the late evening.
One of their traditions was to open one present around the tree on Christmas Eve before going to “midnight mass”. Not really midnight because it was more like 9:30pm. There was indeed one present for everyone around that tree. We had bubbly apple cider or champagne – your choice. I thought I would be the observer on the sidelines for this celebration and I was prepared to play that role because this was after all, not about my conversion nor inclusion, but to satisfy my curiosity. Imagine my surprise when my name was called and there was my present. What I especially liked, nothing was expensive – everything was made by someone in the family and mine was a mixture of real food as a lotion for my hands. I loved it.
We went to midnight mass and that was beautiful. I have heard and sung Christmas Carols over past years, but this was the first time I sang them in the context for which they were composed.
By the time we reached breakfast on the day after Christmas I faced the shock of separation I was so fully incorporated into this family and its Christmas celebration.
On Christmas morning – all the presents were opened. I didn’t get one because none of the adults exchanged gifts, the presents and opening of the presents was for those under 20 years old. I guess the older teenagers were included to help them gradually move from child to adult.
Christmas dinner was fantastic. Nothing really different, just lots of food with a beautifully decorated table. The big attraction was the community the dinner produced. It included a couple people who were homeless and had been picked up for the celebration. I don’t know how the family knew them or where they came from, but here we were and you couldn’t tell the difference between us. That huge economic gap didn’t show. That for me was the most amazing part of this Christmas celebration. Once in bed for the night, for reasons I don’t quite understand my thoughts went back to the homeless and I cried myself to sleep.
Having to go home has put me into grief. Not because I wanted to stay. Nor because I thought their life and religion and holiday celebration were better than mine, but because I realized how much we have all lost in the way we separate ourselves from one another on all levels. We have taken away from this world what is best about it and we only seem to be able to move further and further away from one another defining ourselves in such a way that we have to move away to maintain ourselves as ‘different from’, ‘better than’ and all those other descriptors that mean so much to this world and those of us who live in it.
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas. I certainly did and I am very grateful to Bettina Network Hedge Schools for being there so I could have the experience of a lifetime. I am delighted to be a member of your lifestyle community and look forward to my next foray into what you offer. No resorts – No running around to all the events I could afford – No pressing my nose against the glass wondering what its like on the other side – just a real experience with real people and I will never forget it.
Thanks folks! And may you all have a wonderful holiday, whatever it is you celebrate!
_________________________________________________________
Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!
[give_form id=”3763″]
_________________________________________________________
Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.
Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.
Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.
Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net
Tags: bed & breakfast, Bettina Homes, Bettina Network Hedge Schools, Bettina Network's Lifestyle Community, Guest Comments, Hedge Schools
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 at 12:54 pm and is filed under Bed & Breakfast, Bettina Homes, Bettina Network Blog, Bettina Network Educational Institute, Bettina Network Hedge Schools, Bettina Network's Lifestyle Community, Guest comments, Hedge Schools.
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Both comments and pings are currently closed.
New to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community!
Hello Everybody,
I am brand new to this Community and so far, I love it.
So far, I have not taken advantage of much, but I thought I would write a blog, especially since I am just now beginning to understand what Bettina Network Hedge Schools and being a part of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community means. I wasn’t sure when I first discovered all of you, but having stayed at a Hedge School, the concept and its execution are really fantastic.
First, I have to tell you that I am Jewish.
Why is that important for you to know?
Because I have always wanted to know what it was like being a part of a “Christian” Christmas and I think that is true of many of us. I was not looking to convert or anything else, just to satisfy my curiosity.
From the time I was a very small child, the trees, the toys in the decorated stores and all the rest made me wish to be a part of that – and so this year I took the plunge. As a start, I called Bettina Network to see what they offered – fully expecting them to hang-up on my request, but instead we made reservations. I’ve had three days of magic and I am leaving for home this morning with all of my questions answered and a new way of looking at life understanding others, but especially understanding how rich and full a word like “diversity” means and what it has to offer all of us. I don’t know how this sounds to many of you, but it is where I am at the moment and the reason for my writing this blog.
When I arrived at my Bettina Network Hedge School, I slept in a room with my own Christmas tree; celebrated around the tree in the family’s living room; went to Church with them on Christmas morning and to dinner as a part of the family on Christmas afternoon and into the late evening.
One of their traditions was to open one present around the tree on Christmas Eve before going to “midnight mass”. Not really midnight because it was more like 9:30pm. There was indeed one present for everyone around that tree. We had bubbly apple cider or champagne – your choice. I thought I would be the observer on the sidelines for this celebration and I was prepared to play that role because this was after all, not about my conversion nor inclusion, but to satisfy my curiosity. Imagine my surprise when my name was called and there was my present. What I especially liked, nothing was expensive – everything was made by someone in the family and mine was a mixture of real food as a lotion for my hands. I loved it.
We went to midnight mass and that was beautiful. I have heard and sung Christmas Carols over past years, but this was the first time I sang them in the context for which they were composed.
By the time we reached breakfast on the day after Christmas I faced the shock of separation I was so fully incorporated into this family and its Christmas celebration.
On Christmas morning – all the presents were opened. I didn’t get one because none of the adults exchanged gifts, the presents and opening of the presents was for those under 20 years old. I guess the older teenagers were included to help them gradually move from child to adult.
Christmas dinner was fantastic. Nothing really different, just lots of food with a beautifully decorated table. The big attraction was the community the dinner produced. It included a couple people who were homeless and had been picked up for the celebration. I don’t know how the family knew them or where they came from, but here we were and you couldn’t tell the difference between us. That huge economic gap didn’t show. That for me was the most amazing part of this Christmas celebration. Once in bed for the night, for reasons I don’t quite understand my thoughts went back to the homeless and I cried myself to sleep.
Having to go home has put me into grief. Not because I wanted to stay. Nor because I thought their life and religion and holiday celebration were better than mine, but because I realized how much we have all lost in the way we separate ourselves from one another on all levels. We have taken away from this world what is best about it and we only seem to be able to move further and further away from one another defining ourselves in such a way that we have to move away to maintain ourselves as ‘different from’, ‘better than’ and all those other descriptors that mean so much to this world and those of us who live in it.
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas. I certainly did and I am very grateful to Bettina Network Hedge Schools for being there so I could have the experience of a lifetime. I am delighted to be a member of your lifestyle community and look forward to my next foray into what you offer. No resorts – No running around to all the events I could afford – No pressing my nose against the glass wondering what its like on the other side – just a real experience with real people and I will never forget it.
Thanks folks! And may you all have a wonderful holiday, whatever it is you celebrate!
_________________________________________________________
Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!
[give_form id=”3763″]
_________________________________________________________
Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.
Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.
Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net
Tags: bed & breakfast, Bettina Homes, Bettina Network Hedge Schools, Bettina Network's Lifestyle Community, Guest Comments, Hedge Schools
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 at 12:54 pm and is filed under Bed & Breakfast, Bettina Homes, Bettina Network Blog, Bettina Network Educational Institute, Bettina Network Hedge Schools, Bettina Network's Lifestyle Community, Guest comments, Hedge Schools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.