As we rush headlong and with great excitement into the upcoming holiday season, it may be well to remember the opening verse of the poem Desiderata: “Go placidly among the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.”
One of our great faith traditions will soon be celebrating an event which occurred long ago on a night since styled as silent. It heralded the advent of a new hope that the light of peace and goodwill toward others would dispel the darkness of fear and self-centeredness that held the world in thrall for most of its existence. Contrary to long-held expectations, the promised peace did not manifest itself as political power and security, but rather it offered the chance for personal spiritual realignment with the creative force that gives life and meaning to all existence. It arrived with little human fanfare, yet not entirely unnoticed. Its message was simple yet profoundly transformative: love others as yourself.
Greenwich is an amazing town. With over 63,000 residents spread over more than 60 square miles (larger than the island of Manhattan), it is technically a small city, yet it retains that small town feel. Few may realize its relative diversity, most especially socioeconomically (incomes and wealth range from marginal to truly atmospheric). We are blessed with outstanding natural resources, (shoreline, parks, beaches), public services (including best-in-class emergency services), highly participative and responsive government and reasonable taxation. One need only to walk or drive down Greenwich Avenue this time of year to experience the sparkling magic of Christmas in Greenwich.
Yet in the midst of all these blessings, some of our neighbor’s struggle.
According to the Greenwich United Way and Fairfield University’s January 2021 Assessment of Human Services & State of Greenwich Statistical Report, “[t]wenty-two percent of Greenwich’s population are ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). ALICE is a family of four earning significantly less than what it takes to meet basic needs such as housing and childcare. Additionally, with seven percent of the population below the federal poverty level, almost one-third of our residents are just one family illness or missed paycheck away from financial catastrophe. This may come as a surprise to many; after all, how could there be such great need in the midst of plenty?
What can we do to respond to this uncomfortable reality? Fortunately, residents of our town generously support organizations like the Greenwich United Way, and Neighbor to Neighbor, an independent 501(c)(3) charity organized in 1975 to help improve the lives of financially challenged residents throughout the Greenwich area. And the aptly named Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut operates a donation site at the town’s Holly Hill Recycling.
All of us have likely accumulated many items over the years which we no longer use or need. Now might be a good time to look in our closets, attics, and basements for something (or many things) to donate. This could have the doubly salutary effect of helping those in need while also helping to ease the burden of any future move or downsizing. Truly a win-win situation!
While our individual gifts are unlikely to consist of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, we can all participate in the meaning of the season by offering from our abundance gifts to celebrate the arrival on earth of the promise of celestial and everlasting peace. The peace we feel in our hearts when we give of ourselves to others. The peace which springs from the belief that what we do for even “the least” of our brothers and sisters on earth is celebrated with great joy in the everlasting kingdom for which an infant child was born one silent night so very long ago.
May the peace of the season, which surpasses all understanding, be upon us all and our beloved community.
