As we step into this holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the past year with a heart full of gratitude. 2025 has brought unexpected joys and fulfilling experiences—from a brief yet meaningful return to the theater as “Death” in my alma mater’s production of Everybody to debuting OHF’s Allyship 101 workshop in Orlando for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with new colleagues to create impactful curricula and collaborating with talented writers to publish Fieldnotes on Fortitude: Resistance in Resilience, which I believe beautifully captures our shared journey.
Yet, even amidst these accomplishments, my heart feels heavy.
The world around us is facing unimaginable challenges, from manufactured and natural disasters to the ongoing struggles with bigotry, racism, immigration, and homelessness. The realities of grief and loss weigh heavily on many of us. While these situations are painful to consider, they pale in comparison to actually having one’s life shattered by any one of these events. For some, it’s easier to look the other way. That’s neither a judgment call nor a license to ill, but simply an observation.
Recently, I’ve had reason to read the Biblical accounts of the first Christmas, and the details surrounding the birth of Jesus are truly profound. Friends, God is definitely in the details. The accounts, in sum, illustrate a powerful message of reconciliation between God and humanity, as well as a calling to extend grace and compassion to one another in all our relationships.
And that, my friends, gives me something that buoys me amidst the not-so-pleasant circumstances of everyday life: Joy, a sense that in the long run everything’s going to be alright. It’s not unquestioning optimism; it’s more robust and nuanced than that.
As we navigate the busyness of the holiday season, may you find quiet moments to reflect on the first Christmas and to embrace a broader perspective that enables you to extend compassion, empathy, and grace in your relationships.
Wishing you and your loved ones all the hope, joy, peace, and love of that first Christmas to last throughout the new year. Thank you for being a cherished part of my life.
Happy holidays!
Clay Rivers
OHF Weekly Editor in Chief
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