O Holy Night

December 2023

“If you want to be holy, be kind.” — Frederick Buechner

When people hear the phrase O Holy Night, there is an assumed reference to the song, which has an unusual and intriguing history. Originally a poem commissioned by a parish priest for a humble congregation, with music composed by a man of Jewish ancestry, the song later became a prayer for peace and a message of hope in the face of slavery. There are scores of musical variations that can be heard throughout the Christmas season.

What does holy mean to you? When looking up definitions, this writer was struck by “having a divine quality” and “of a sacred nature”. Sometimes holy and sacred go hand in hand. Although the word has religious connotations, what one considers holy is entirely open to interpretation. Think about this, though…

The work we do is, indeed, holy. We stand on holy ground when at the bedside with patients transitioning from this world to the next or when offering comfort to a grieving family member. We create sacred spaces where the bittersweet beauty of grief is allowed to walk hand in hand with living forward.

Traditional and non-traditional spiritualities revere animals as holy and they do seem to have a connection to what is unseen and unheard by humans. There are scores of stories of animals performing unimaginable feats of courage to save a human, or pets in nursing homes who somehow KNOW when comfort is needed. In our own homes, the comfort and joy of a pet is most certainly a holy thing.

A crisp, winter night with the brilliance of stars. A toddler’s laugh. The first green growth of spring. Music that brings us to tears. Love and grief. The rush of water over millions of years that has transformed rocks. The scent of flowers. Forgiveness. Redemption. Compassion. Art.

Holy. All holy.

What does holy mean to YOU?

Be Well …

Arkansas Hospice Employee Wellness Council (EWC) Keeping you Well – Mind, Body, & Spirit

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