Eleventh Day of Christmas

Self,
It's Christmas Eve - the Eleventh Day of Christmas, it's only fitting that today's song would be "Silent Night."
I'm not so in love with Christina Aguilera as the person who made this video, but I am enough of a fan to appreciate her voice singing this song.
I looked for a live performance of her and the only one I found was of her and Brian McKnight doing it as a duet. I like the duet, but I didn't care for the crowd cheering and hollering over the vocalists.

For me the significance of the song is about honoring the sacred. As I said on "The Eighth Day" entry, I know that December 25 was chosen to gain converts from those who were honoring the sanctity of the Winter Solstice.
Now there is SOOOO little that the world holds sacred anymore.
Sacred sites are now just land to simply buy or to fight over. Look at Walmart wanting to build a store in Mexico city near the ancient Aztec complex of the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon a few years back. Look at how Jews and Palastinians fight over who has the right to occupy Jerusalum. If it is so sacred to them both, why can't the live in peace on the land. (Politics aside.)

Despite recent statements of "perserving the sanctity of marriage" as opposition to same-sex unions, marriage is now basically become a matter of politics. Requiring a piece of paper as an acknowledgment of an union, or another to end one.

How often do many of us forget to bow our heads in gratitude for the food we eat before a meal except at holidays and special events? (- myself included.) We take for granted that it's a blessing for the food to be sitting infront of us while MANY the world over goes hungry.

Not even Life and Love consistently hold the mantle of sacred anymore. How quick people are to take a life (or lives) over land, or possessions, money, and the true stupidity of colors (national flags as well as those of street gangs). If God is Love, why is there SO much hate and cruelty in the world. Parents neglect their children, couples abuse and torment each other. People so fearful of being hurt that they play games with other people's heart and emotions to increase the cycle of bitterness, sorrow and suffering.

Find what is sacred to you. Cherish it. Share it with others. What you hold sacred may also be treasured by others and MAYBE the sharing of this with stregnthen the bonds of our hearts with each other. That was my intentions with this series. Not to say that I necessarily hold these songs as sacred, what is sacred to me is JOY, LOVE, HAPPINESS and these songs to me represent and encourage these intangible gems in their multi-faceted slendor. They bring me joy and I hope they did the same for you.
Sincerely,
Pharaoh