Hello Everybody,<\/p>\n
I am brand new to this Community and so far, I love it.<\/p>\n
So far, I have not taken advantage of much, but I thought I would write a blog, \u00a0especially since I am just now beginning to understand what Bettina Network Hedge Schools and being a part of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community means. \u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
First, I have to tell you that I am Jewish.<\/p>\n
Why is that important for you to know?<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0I was not looking to convert or anything else, just to satisfy my curiosity.<\/p>\n
From the time I was a very small child, \u00a0the 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. \u00a0As 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. \u00a0I’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. \u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
When I arrived at my Bettina Network Hedge School, I slept in a room with my own Christmas tree; \u00a0celebrated around the tree in the family’s living room; \u00a0went to Church with them on Christmas morning and to dinner as a part of the family on Christmas afternoon and into the late evening.<\/p>\n
One of their traditions was to open one present around the tree on Christmas Eve before going to “midnight mass”. \u00a0Not really midnight because it was more like 9:30pm. \u00a0There was indeed one present for everyone around that tree. \u00a0We had bubbly apple cider or champagne – your choice. \u00a0I 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. \u00a0Imagine my surprise when my name was called and there was my present. \u00a0What 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. \u00a0I loved it.<\/p>\n
We went to midnight mass and that was beautiful. \u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
On Christmas morning – all the presents were opened. \u00a0I 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. \u00a0I guess the older teenagers were included to help them gradually move from child to adult.<\/p>\n
Christmas dinner was fantastic. \u00a0Nothing really different, just lots of food with a beautifully decorated table. \u00a0The big attraction was the community the dinner produced. \u00a0It included a couple people who were homeless and had been picked up for the celebration. \u00a0I 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. \u00a0That huge economic gap didn’t show. That for me was the most amazing part of this Christmas celebration. \u00a0Once 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.<\/p>\n
Having to go home has put me into grief. \u00a0Not because I wanted to stay. \u00a0Nor because I thought their life and religion \u00a0and 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. \u00a0We 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.<\/p>\n
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas. \u00a0I certainly did and I am very grateful to Bettina Network Hedge Schools for being there so I could have the experience of a lifetime. \u00a0I am delighted to be a member of your lifestyle community and look forward to my next foray into what you offer. \u00a0No 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.<\/p>\n
Thanks folks! \u00a0And may you all have a wonderful holiday, whatever it is you celebrate!<\/p>\n
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