The Big Day is almost here. We will gather together in fellowship and celebration of who we are. Hope reigns supreme this time of year.

One of my favorite Christmas movies is entitled A Christmas Tale. It is a French movie. The flick’s depiction of a family and how they interact with each other is real. The sister in the movie has disowned her older brother and, after paying off his debt, asks him to commit to never speaking to her again. The matriarch of the family has bone cancer and needs a bone marrow transfusion from one of her relatives. The recalcitrant daughter has a son with schizophrenia. A younger brother has married a woman the two brothers and cousin decided was best for him and thus the cousin withdrew his pursuit of the lovely woman. The patriarch loves jazz and runs a dye factory. The older brother and the grandson are matches for the bone marrow transfusion.

Amid family strife is love and acceptance and a great Christmas Play. A revelation by the woman who was bartered for the brother who needed her more according to the committee…that the Vuliard Cousin has always loved her and has been miserable since the day he could not be with her. A Christmas Eve Mass where Mother and the shunned son she has never cared for attend. In other words…real life…

We love White Christmas and Bing Crosby’s crooning. Most of us do not fit the Vanilla Mold. Disagreements happen and walls are built. We are separated and have forgotten the reason why…

Mythic mystic mysterious qualities dwell with us at Christmas. We seek acceptance for who we are. Our short lives are marked by occurrences we did not see coming that have lasting effects.

We Do Not Fit The Mold People will gather around the Holiday Table. Love in our own way. Accept those who are different than us. Glad for our diverse journey following the Star. The Baby lay in the Manger. He accepts. He is love and light. Everyone has a place at the table. Unique in our foibles and hurts we look for kind eyes. We search for new beginnings. We hope for a Christmas miracle.