A Different Holiday

Photo courtesy of Mission San José, San Antonio

For decades my holiday tradition has been to attend a Christmas Eve church service that ends after midnight. I would rush home with the glow of Christmas carols sung in community and then open Christmas presents, since it was actually Christmas morning! I’d sleep late and then take a hike (or at least a long walk) by myself contemplating the year and counting my blessings.This year the tradition comes to an end. An Episcopal Church is coordinating a hike at 3:30pm on Christmas Eve in one of our wonderful parks here in Nashville, Percy Warner. Later in the evening (but not late), I’ll be watching a church service on-line, worshiping together, but apart. Since it won’t be close to midnight, I’m not sure if I’ll stay up anyway maybe celebrating with some eggnog, or if I’ll break with tradition and go to bed early, greeting Christmas upon awakening in the early morning.My decades-long