Once again, Christmas is nearly upon us. It seems like no time since I was packing up last year’s Christmas decorations. Christmas is a time to reflect on the year that has been. This year has certainly presented challenges for all of us. For many it has brought separation, isolation and even division. In the midst of all this, it’s important to reflect on that which we can celebrate. The following true stories may inspire you.

Silent Night, written by historian Stanley Weintraub, is an account of one of the most unlikely and touching events in the annals of war. Christmas Eve 1914, early in World War One, soldiers laid down their arms and joined with enemies in a spontaneous Christmas celebration. The truce spread among the men who defied orders, emerging from their trenches and crossing the barbed wire in order to meet in No Man’s Land. Germans placed candle-lit Christmas trees on trench parapets and warring soldiers sang carols. Together they buried their dead in moving ceremonies, exchanged gifts, ate and drank and played football with improvised balls. For a brief time, a world war stopped.

Fast forward nearly one hundred years to another Christmas truce. In 2010, the Colombian government, realising that they were fighting a losing battle with terrorism, launched “Operation Christmas”. Jungle trees were decorated with motion-sensor lights. Alongside each tree was a sign for any guerilla terrorist who walked by. It read “If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come home. Demobilise. At Christmas, everything is possible ”. The campaign resulted in 331 guerillas surrendering their arms and being welcomed back into society. The following Christmas, “Operation Rivers of Light,” released into the jungle 7,000 purple lit plastic balls containing messages of peace and gifts for the guerillas. This also resulted in many going home. The successful campaigns led to FIFA sponsoring the drop of thousands of soccer balls signed by players, all with stickers saying “Demobilise. Let’s play again.” Over the past ten years since more than 18,000 guerrilla fighters have left the jungle and re-entered society.

If you are facing something that feels like a losing battle, Christmas is a great opportunity to try something new. Think about how you can change tactics. It might require letting go of familiar weapons you’ve been using for a long time and taking a leap of faith into the unknown- a risk that could reap rewards.

Coming together at Christmas can be a melting pot of differing opinions, and in our current situation, anxiety is elevated. This is an occasion for a reconciliatory approach. The person whom you regard as belonging to ‘the other side is actually someone who has the same needs and desires as you. Perhaps it’s time to do something tangible that initiates a truce.
Christmas is about appreciating those you celebrate with. I will certainly be doing that, as our three-year dream to see our overseas son eventuates on Christmas Eve. May you all enjoy Christmas as much as our 
 family will!

Linda Gray
linda@relationshipsanctuary.com.au
0401 517 243