This time of year is full of contrasts:

Darkness of Advent… light of Christmas

Excess of the celebration…inadequacy of resources to celebrate

Expressions of love and joy… desperation of depression and loneliness

Hope of the birth of a baby… fear of what will happen to all children

Special traditions… inability to build traditions

Expectations of gifts… despair of not having enough

Anticipation of time spent with family… anxiety of family dynamics

The contrasts affect us all. Some of us live more on one side of the other.

When we reach out across the contrast, all our lives are enriched.