Holiday stress is tough! Yes, we call the lead up to and through Christmas the “most wonderful time of the year” and for many folks, it is. Think of the candy canes, decorated trees, house and office parties, and of course Christmas Eve and other regular services at your local Christian congregation.
But, what about those who have recently lost loved-ones or friends to death? Yes, the season will still bring its joy while that chair at Christmas dinner won’t be occupied by Grandma, Grandpa, a cousin or uncle or aunt. Some of us who are blind will feel afraid of venturing out to be with family and friends on Christmas because the possibility of being the token center of everyone’s fawning or we fear being set in the corner while others talk around us.
Those who wrestle with feelings of loneliness at this time of year face a blanket of anxiety deeper than the mounds of snow in many parts of the country. For many, said reasons can be enough to build up more resentment against those who don’t quite understand how we cope with our sight loss.
Yes, we who confess the Christian faith live in both worlds: Yes, we can sing and be joyful at celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior, as we long for His return in glory. Still, that does not exempt us from feeling isolated, ignored, nervous and grieving at this time of year when facing the fears impacted by our blindness. We wrestle, too, even as we believe our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus birth, death, and resurrection are for our salvation.
Whether Christian or not, howe do we who are blind get beyond what often sound like holiday buzz words or cliches? Maybe, we do revel in the trappings of the most wonderful time of the year. We can be thankful for this. Yet, those of us who do not so revel, you are no less a part of the blindness community, let alone dignified people now than at any other time of the year.
It’s going to be a blessing on Tuesday evening as the Hoosier All-State Chapter of the American Council of the Blind-Indiana takes up this important matter in a guest presentation by Pastor Dave Andrus. Pastor Andrus, himself blind since he was eleven years old has led Not Alone Internet Ministries for several years. www.not-alone.net Besides this, he serves as a pastor of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO and has overseen various outreach centers for the blind throughout the country during the past twenty-five years.
If time allows, join us on Zoom at 7:00 PM prior to the Hoosier All-State Chapter’s regular monthly meeting for Pastor Dave Andrus’s talk. Here’s the Zoom info.
Time: Dec 6, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82078698568
Meeting ID: 820 7869 8568
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,82078698568# US
+13126266799,,82078698568# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 820 7869 8568
Boldly Blind 