Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"Part of the reason this story continues to ignite the imagination is because certain things do not seem to be different. Over and over again, governments make decrees that require the people who have the least to take on an undue burden of travel, to wait in lines, to put their health and comfort aside in order to meet the demands of the bureaucracy they need to navigate in order to survive. Ask anyone who doesn't have the money to pay for the state ID they need to access benefits. Ceaser is still calling for the world to be enrolled. Over and over again, we hear there is no room at the inn, that it is more important to prop up a system of wealth disparity than to ensure that all of our neighbors have the dignity of secure, safe shelter. Mary and Joseph are still seeking a place where she may be delivered. Over and over again, tyrants put the lives of children at risk, or even threaten them directly, in order to consolidate their power. We hear that refugees are dangerous, and so families must find some other way to flee or perish. Herod is still cutting short the lives of the innocents.

The Nativity story continues to be relevant because some of the evils of the world come back around again and again. At the same time, we are offered some paths of resistance and response. When there seems to be no room, we make room in surprising places. [...]"

-- Rev. Lyn Cox, 2017-12-24

Today is
Gregorian: 2022 December 25 -- Feast of the Nativity / first day of Christmas, in Western and new-calendar Orthodox churches; fifth day of Yule
Julian: 2022 December 12 -- thirteen days before Christmas
Hebrew: 5783 Tevet 01 -- 7th day of Chanukkah (8th candle this evening) -- I think I got this wrong yesterday?
Islamic: 1444 Jumada t-Tania 01
Persian: 1401 Dey 04
Mayan: 0.0.0.13.0.10.2.16
Indian (civil): 1944 Pausa 04
Coptic: 1739 Koiak 16
Discordian: 3188 The Aftermath 67