A Snowy Christmas Eve In Vancouver

I am a West Coast flake. Let me be perfectly clear about that. I care about the environment. I love Al Gore. I commune with nature. I am open to and have experienced a variety of spiritual practices. I can eat sushi like it's candy. I practice yoga. I eat organic. I have a personal trainer. And I love the mild climate. Our summers are warm and sunny. Our winters are wet with mild temps. Winters are wonderfully green and moist. In fact, Vancouver's year-round "green-ness" is particularly appealing to me. This mild climate part has been put to the test in Vancouver. We have had majour snow this past week. 20 cm (9 inches) over the weekend. Another 17 cm (7-8 in) accumulated since last night. And forecasters are calling for another possible 10 cm (4-5 in) before it all stops. I truly get the one phrase in the Christmas carol that proclaims "snow had fallen snow on snow, snow-oh on snow"

So what's a West Coast flake to do when flakes are all around him? That was my dilemna as I set out to finish (translate "start") my Christmas shopping today. I layered, put on my ski jacket, my touque, my boots and ventured outside. Bring it on Mother Nature!! I live in downtown Vancouver, so no driving for me - just walk and shop, walk and shop. And as I began to walk and shop, I sensed a shift happening. Far from stress and strain, I took notice of and allowed an unexpected deep joy to settle within me. I looked around and began to take in the moment - relishing this particular moment in time. For me, one of the great gifts that Buddhism offers is the gift of mindfulness. Being present - right here, right now. Being full in the moment. And as I embraced this gift of mindfulness, I was surrounded by Holiness right in the middle of downtown Vancouver. As I savoured the gifts being offered, I was aware of a tangible joy and presence within me. I watched the beautiful snow fall. I observed the many shoppers bundled up scurrying about - smiles abounding with the occasional stop and hug with friends and family along the journey. I saw the beautiful Christmas tree in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery with it's many bright white lights. Even as I descended the escalator in Pacific Centre, I looked out over the festive red decorations that adorned the store. It was magical. I felt like a true Canadian!! And more importantly, this holy space felt like the Eve of the birth of a babe. Throughout the afternoon as I ran my debit card through the many tills, I was mindful of this special occasion that no amount of mild west coast rain could replicate. This was a gift of God to me.

Advent is my favourite season. It's a season of waiting, anticipating, expecting, opening oneself to something new, experiencing God in the unexpected. I was in an Advent moment. Who woulda thunk that something as ordinary as bundling up to head out in a most unusual snowfall to buy last minute gifts before the stores close would have been the framework for the blessing of experiencing Love in the natural world, the faces of strangers, the cash register of free enterprise, and even the dirty snow that drenched my backside as a transit bus passed by. God is truly in all and above all. Merry Christmas!