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Jan 1, 2001

A Christmas message:

I seem to always get to writing about Christmas on the Solstice. As I sit here reviewing the year, I find it difficult to think beyond the election controversy and the dramatic shift in the nation's stock market. While that might seem an odd beginning to a Christmas and New Year's greeting, it's not really when you think about all of the changes that these events signal for us in the year to come. We are entering a time of great change - and while that is always true, change is a constant of life - the type of change ahead of us speaks of a much greater significance. I am reminded of the deep and profound beginnings of this nation when I think of the election madness. I receive a nonstop barrage of emails pouring one joke after another about our president-elect. Prior to his declaration as the new president, I was receiving an equal amount of critical reports about Gore. I found it curious that I received not one report that spoke of any positive qualities of either man. The positive aspects were meant to be communicated through the negative reports about the opponent. There was no mention of the positive future for this country or what individuals should do during these next four years to support the new energy that is soon to take charge of the leadership of this nation.

I recall during the Monica L. debacle a conversation I had with an old friend in which I carried on in my usual dramatic style, saying that Clinton had humiliated this nation and that he wasn't fit for holding his office. I was astounded that my companion had nothing to say and so I challenged him, demanding that he offer some type of opinion. Instead he said, "I have no right to an opinion about that man because I didn't pray for him." That silenced me so far as my conversation with him was concerned, but it has only opened wide a forum for thought as regards the rest of my life. That brief exchange brought into my mind the profound historical beginning of this nation and tonight as I think about the significance of these holy days and their message of light - from Hanukkah to Christmas and to the Islam celebration of Ramadan I wish to plant the seen of remembrance as a thought to take with us as we enter not only a new year, but a new era with the first president of the new millennium. This nation is the only country on this planet that was founded on principles that protect the human spirit, giving us spiritual rights and privileges as priorities toward our well-being. We have the right to free speech, to free thought, and to happiness, among other freedoms. But what other country states that its population has a right to happiness? None. The spirit reigned supreme when our forefathers scripted the Declaration of Independence, inspiring Thomas Jefferson to channel the psyche of this nation onto paper. We live within a nation that has a Sacred Contract to protect and provide for the rights of the human spirit - that is the task of this country, and thus of its population. When you turn your attention to the care of your own spirit, to refining its capacity to love, to be compassionate, to practice generosity, recognize that you are acting in accordance to not only the higher calling of the human spirit, but on behalf of a nation's spirit that has come to represent spiritual freedom to all people on this planet. It may be novel to consider acts of generosity as the spiritual expression of politics, but that is exactly what those acts of kindness towards others represents.

Our nation is about to enter years that will not enjoy the stability of the previous two decades. We are going to experience dramatic changes in our society. You can count on that. It is up to each of us to maintain the health of not only our own spirits, but that of our nation as well. It may be difficult for many of your to act upon this suggestion - it is difficult for me - but let me suggest that we hold the spirit of this nation in our prayers as a part of our daily spiritual practice. And if we find it difficult to respect the man who will soon be president, let us at least respect the office of the President and speak of this nation with respect. We owe it to the psyche of our collective nation to breathe into its energy system thoughts of grace and support, but most of all thoughts of respect. After all, we are protecting and providing for our own spirits and those of generations to come with these actions. And if we learn little else from this recent election drama, let us keep in mind that the future of this entire world rested upon the votes of less than five hundred people. Five hundred people have determined the future of this planet. What then can five hundred positive thoughts contribute?

I would like to add a more personal note and say to all of you how much I am grateful for your love and support of my work and me. If I could hug each one of you, I would. I am deeply honored that you have allowed me to share my ideas with you and that you have in turn supported me through reading my books and listening to my lectures and attending my workshops You make my life a pleasure and have given me all the reason I need to be filled with gratitude each moment of the day.

For all of you who have reached out to me for personal help, I so deeply apologize that I am not able to be there for each of you. Try as I do, there are simply not enough hours in the day for me to respond to all of your requests. Sometimes the letters I receive are filled with such painful stories that I find them difficult to read. I place the letters on my desk next to my computer as I work on my book, and I tell myself that I will read them as soon as I finish writing the next sentence or editing the next paragraph. And I realize that all I am doing is postponing reading them at all. But eventually I do read your letters to me and when I find it impossible to come to your aid individually, I want you to know that I keep your letters next to me and pray for each of you. I will always keep these letters.

Let me close by wishing you all a blessed and healthy Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan. May all of you find this next year to be creative, dynamic, filled with love and abundant grace. We, as a spiritual family - which is how I like to think of all of you who visit my site - can do so much together if we pray for each other and support each other in all the ways we can. I think of this site as a meeting ground - a gathering place for your minds, your hearts, and your spirits. I welcome your suggestions as to what you would like added to this site and I invite each of you to share your ideas with me or to write me an "Ask Caroline" letter. One of my New Year's resolutions is to answer one letter a day - that is, when I'm in town. And when I am preparing for a road trip, I will attempt to answer a letter for each day that I am away. If I blow it, at least know that I am trying my best.

I love you all so very much - God bless each of you. You have each been and are a blessing in mine.

Caroline