Interfaith Spirit Quest

New Christmas Song 2010 - My Favourite Time Of Year

My Favourite Time of Year by Florin Street Band

A beautiful new Christmas song for 2010

Single is available for purchase on Amazon:

The Miracles of Christmas

The Miracles of Christmas is a plan to create a more meaningful Christmas and eliminate the over-commercialization of the holidays. This plan can also be used at other holidays and special celebrations.

Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2009, our family came up with a new and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.  After bringing it up and discussing it with my spouse over Thanksgiving breakfast, we decided we should discuss the idea with the rest of the family - they loved the idea!  The fact we all agreed that it was at least a good idea in theory, is a miracle in and of itself.   The idea is about making dreams and wishes come true, it’s about The Miracles of Christmas, and it might even make a Scrooge look forward to Christmas again.  Perhaps this will be your Christmas of the future.  Of course this theme may be used at other holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, you name it. 

The Miracles of Christmas is a new way to celebrate a more meaningful Christmas or other Holiday.  The idea is to allow one Christmas/Holiday wish per person and then to give that person the undivided attention and participation of the whole family or group for an allotted time period, agreed upon by all.  If you have a large family, you may wish or need to spread this out over a couple days, and if you have a small family; you may choose to allow more time for each person.  Alternatively, you may wish to choose 2 or 3 main activities that everyone agrees on.  Simplify the process a little bit if a lot of people are involved.  Every year will be different and memorable in its own way.  You can make this as easy or as elaborate as you wish. You create the guidelines.

Last year, I wrote three posts pertaining to the Miracles of Christmas.  These three posts explain the plan, offer up ideas, and tell the story of how it went for my family.  You can read all three posts here: 

See Part 1:  The Miracles of Christmas - The Plan

See Part 2:  58 Miracles of Christmas - Ideas to get you started

See Part 3:  After the Miracles of Christmas - Our personal story - how it went (published after Christmas)

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may the spirit of the Miracles of Christmas be part of your holiday season now and forevermore. 

Interfaith Spirit Quest

An Easter Message – A More Compassionate Resurrection

Body, Mind, Spirit & Service

 

 

Meditative Prayer Practice:

Two effective elements of prayer according to Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk, author, poet and scholar, in his book The Energy of Prayer are:

1. Knowing to whom it is that you pray, knowing that you are always connected to this Source.
2. Tapping into the energy between us and the Source, a currency reached through love, mindfulness and right concentration.

Practice:  Please take a moment to acknowledge the Source to whom you pray; we generally use the term God when we name this Source, but feel free to use the reverent term you are most comfortable using. Connect by asking yourself 'to whom do I pray?'

Next, please take a moment to create the energy, the electrical currency needed to establish an effective moment of intimate prayer with God. The electric currency is made up of love, mindfulness and right concentration. Direct your body and mind toward the present moment, be mindful of the connection between your spirit and the Spirit of God dwelling peacefully within.

With all this in mind, use this time to be with God in full awareness. Receive God's love now, give the Creator & Sustainer your gratitude and praise, share your concerns with God as you would with a close friend – for He is closer still. ………….

Listen to the higher thoughts coming to you from the First Source and Center of all things. Hear his answers to your prayers. …………….

Look to your higher self to contemplate and absorb these responses from God. You've always had God's love, you only need to claim it and acknowledge it to receive it. Do this now. Receive God's love in your mind, body and spirit. Live on this love, share it with others. You are at peace. Remain in God's love and peace. Amen.

Brain Rule #8 Stress

The following thoughts on Stress are gleaned from the book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School - by John Medina.

Out of control stress is bad news for the brains of most people. Some of us tolerate stress better than others; some are super-stress-sensitive!

Handling stress – 'variable balance' (or allostasis) is the ability of the brain or body to change or adapt immediately to the present stressful circumstance – up to a certain degree. There is a point, different for each person, where stress becomes toxic – overloaded. Some things just kick us so hard that we react in strange ways; everything from loud verbal outbursts, to violence, to total withdrawal. The greater the overload, the bigger and harder the fall. Relationships, health, work; all suffer from our inability to maintain our variable balance. Stress can cause depression, which dampens or dulls the brain's natural instincts and problem solving abilities. Depression can also affect our relationships, health and work.

The bottom line is that we have lost our balance – we are out of control. If too much is expected of us and we have no control – we feel helpless and frustrated. We need to restore the sense of balance we have lost by taking control of the situation. Taking control can simply be a matter of changing things up a little, adding variety, letting go of control over others (author: "it's none of your business anyway!") . Taking control is never exerting unwanted, unwarranted, unnecessary control over others.

In the case of relationships, if yours has turned sour and hostile – the key to improving your relationship may be to simply reduce the frequency and severity of hostile interactions between each other, with a return to civility. Easier said than done – but this is the unmedicated prescription.

A More Compassionate Resurrection – a Gift

Interfaith Spirit Quest - An Easter Message for 2010

A Universal Message of Hope for People of All Faiths

Jesus willingly laid down his life – certainly not to give those who sought to destroy him any sense of victory – no, but to be the ultimate victory for all people in all times. Hallelujah! Praise be to God!

Whoever you believe Jesus to be – he gave his life for you. When Jesus said his final words while hanging on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34); he saved you.

Whatever you have thought about Jesus – when he said on the cross: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…" (Luke 23:46); he put his future and yours into God's hands.

So what exactly did Jesus save us from? What does a future in God's hands look like for us today? These questions are totally unique to each one of us and at the same time, universally harmonious.

Unique because we are all individual spirits, unique personalities, working toward a supreme purpose of life – the development of the Christ Mind, a well-balanced and majestic personality – completely and totally, mindfully and lovingly connected and devoted to God – the First Source and Center of all things, including our individual and unique spirits.

Universally harmonious because we are one human race, thrusting together toward the God of our hearts – completely, totally, mindfully and lovingly connected and devoted also to each other – the source of our individual human existence in the physical realm.

Jesus shows us how our personal relationships with each other mirror the personal relationship we can have with God when we commend (entrust) our body, mind and spirit to him. Him? God is more than Father – but there is nothing wrong with using the term Our Father to describe God. God is a Universal Spirit and enjoys the benefits of both masculinity and femininity – he is whole. Does this mean we are not whole? Yes, in the same way that God is not a man (but a Universal Spirit). We are striving toward this goal of developing the Christ Mind – we are missing something. Perhaps, for the masculine minded person it is their feminine mind that needs to be developed. Likewise, the feminine minded person might have a need to develop their masculine mind. Typically, the relationship of man and woman represent our struggle to achieve oneness and balance. If our relationships with each other are more compassionate, we can say we have achieved the Christ Mind, we have developed a more fully, well-balanced, majestic personality.

Jesus still saves. He saves you by demonstrating to us how things ought to be between us; saving us from unnecessary suffering. He demonstrates this through his life by showing us a more compassionate way.

Jesus still saves. He saves you by introducing you, through his death, to the God of spirit and resurrection; saving us from the fear of not knowing. Jesus demonstrates through life and death that we are inseparable from God, for God is not willing that any should perish.

This is the gift of Jesus, a compassionate resurrection, given for all, to people of all faiths. You opened this gift when you were born. It is the gift of life; physical, spiritual and eternal, given to all.

Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Praise be to God. 

Jesus' Death on the Cross, Resurrection and Universal Salvation

Think you've heard this Easter story before?  Maybe not. 

The only way to understand Jesus' death on the cross, the crucifixion, is through the amazing grace of this true shepherd. Eyes still blinded by indoctrination may not yet be able to see the true significance and unselfishness of this tragic event.

The atonement doctrine claims that Jesus died to save us from our sins – that unless God incarnated in the human form of Jesus and suffered a tortuous, painful death, there would be no way humankind could approach God. It infers that we must be perfect before we can approach God, and that Jesus, being perfect, is the one who stands in for us. Jesus would receive the brunt of God's wrath so we would not. What this means is that God sent himself to dwell in the bodily form of Jesus so that he could bear our sins upon his shoulders. 

This is the traditional view and belief of most Christians.

• Is there anything inherently wrong or harmful in believing this?
• Is it possible that the Bible has been misinterpreted all these years?
• Is it possible that the Bible has been unfavorably edited/redacted?
  

Perhaps this is a more likely meaning of Jesus' death on the cross:

Jesus did not have to die.  Many believe that certain Jewish leaders and followers, along with members of the Roman governing authorities, killed Jesus.  Jesus was a threat to their power structure, so they found a way to remove him from their presence. Were Jesus to come today, we might do the same thing, we might find a way to either kill or silence Jesus so we would not have to change our ways.

• This conclusion should be plain from a simple reading Biblical text.

But God is a true and loving Creator, not an angry, vengeful being who believes punishment is the way to our hearts. Jesus is a Savior in the sense that he showed us the way of salvation – the life he lived is the way – not his death. His resurrection is evidence of our future potentiality.

• Many people believe we are seeing two different Gods at work in the Bible:
  • The strict, vengeful, warrior God of the Old Testament
  • The true and loving God in the person of Jesus in the New Testament
• Most Christians read the Bible as one story, Old and New Testaments combining to tell the story of the coming Messiah, Christians believe that Messiah to be Jesus, Jews are still waiting.

The doctrine of atonement and sacrificial salvation is rooted in selfishness. Whenever we commit a wrong, we look for ways to justify our behaviors – saying that Jesus is our sacrificial lamb is the equivalent of saying your child must pay for your mistakes here on earth. Government is saddling nations with debt that our children will have to pay – but we all know this is wrong, so why do we think that God would make his son pay for our mistakes/sins? Even if God were a strict disciplinarian that we sometimes portray him to be, he would not be satisfied with the idea of an innocent person (Jesus) suffering in our place. How many times did God say that he did not want our burnt offerings, our sacrifices; but instead asked for mercy and love, and for us to know him more fully?

• Eyes still blinded by a fundamental religious upbringing and indoctrination make it difficult to see the true significance and unselfishness of this tragic event.

We do not need to be so concerned about our salvation; rather we need to be more concerned about loving and serving our brothers and sisters in truth, beauty and goodness. Do this and the rest will follow. If you believe in God and you seek to do his will, your life will be meaningful and satisfying.

What is universal salvation and what are we being saved from?

Universal salvation and eternal life are real; we receive them when we first and foremost make a connection to God, followed by the living experience of loving connections with our brothers and sisters. 

Jesus came to reveal God to humankind.  Jesus is a Savior in the sense that he shows us the way of salvation. Salvation from what? Salvation from poor choices and wrong living, salvation from the separation from God we feel when we suffer the consequences of these poor choices and wrong ways of living. The word 'sin', correctly translated, means to 'miss the mark', like when someone shoots an arrow toward a target and misses the mark.  Jesus has taught us how to make good choices and to live righteously; he taught us how to become whole again.  Salvation is a moment by moment, day by day, ongoing, wisdom enhancing movement. Salvation produces correction and rehabilitation.  This is the natural and universal law that we must all live by and that Jesus came to deliver. 

Jesus' life for us portrayed deliverance from sin (to miss the mark, make mistakes or poor choices) and evil (wrong living). To follow the religion that Jesus practiced is to live life as Jesus lived, in loving service to others - this is the religion of the heart, as opposed to the religion of tradition. The Bible is an excellent resource for teaching us how Jesus lived his life in the flesh during his ministry.  There are other sacred texts and written words for discovering the heart of Jesus and for learning about the missing years.   Strange, isn't it?  Christians claim Jesus to be the son of God, the Savior of humankind, yet we have only 28 days of his life recorded for us in the Bible.  Read some of these alternate texts, you will find them equally as valuable toward the personal development and fulfillment of our purpose, that of becoming a majestic and well-balanced personality.  Jesus is by far the most excellent example leading the way.  The religion of the heart is the true religion and will eventually prevail.

The more likely meaning of the death on the cross is Jesus' complete willingness to give his life as an example of his love for all people. Jesus refused to avoid death on the cross for the simple reason that he knew that when people realized what they had done, they would be saved and they would know within, God's eternal, universal love and Jesus' eternal, universal mercy and amazing grace.  Jesus' life is the revelation of God; Jesus' resurrection is the revelation of eternal life.

• Have we ever needed salvation?
• What do we need to be saved from?
• How does Jesus show us how to live the religion of the heart?
• Is universal salvation true, or even possible?  Why or why not?
  

Happy Easter!

Resources:

The Bible:  Read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

The Urantia Book:  Read Part 4 - The Life & Teachings of Jesus

Christian Universalism:  God's Good News For All People

Image:  FreeFoto.com

 

Irish Blessings, Prayers & Proverbs

A small collection of familiar Irish blessings, prayers and proverbs:

.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

— Irish Blessing

May you always have
Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

— Irish Proverb

May you live as long as you want,

And never want as long as you live.

— Irish Proverb




May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,

and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

— Irish Blessing




May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

— An Irish Prayer

Part 3: The Miracles of Christmas - How it went

- Meaningful ways to celebrate Christmas and other Holidays

Part 3 - Miracles of Christmas - How it went

This is a 3 part post - Parts 1 and 2 were written prior to the 2009 Christmas holiday.  This is Part 3, the story of how the Miracles of Christmas went for our family!

The Miracles of Christmas is a new way to celebrate a more meaningful Christmas or other Holiday.  The idea is to allow one Christmas/Holiday wish per person and then to give that person the undivided attention and participation of the whole family or group for an allotted time period, agreed upon by all.  If you have a large family, you may wish or need to spread this out over a couple days, and if you have a small family; you may choose to allow more time for each person.  You create the guidelines.

Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2009, our family came up with a new and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.  After bringing it up and discussing it with my spouse over Thanksgiving breakfast, we decided we should discuss the idea with the rest of the family - they loved the idea!  The fact we all agreed that it was at least a good idea in theory, is a miracle in and of itself.   The idea is about making dreams and wishes come true, it’s about The Miracles of Christmas, and it might even make a Scrooge look forward to Christmas again.  Perhaps this will be the Christmas or Holiday celebration of your future.  Of course this theme may be used at other holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, you name it. 

How it Went:  There were 8 of 10 family members participating in our Miracles of Christmas event for our first try.  One person chose to stay home with the baby.  The participants each chose an event for the whole family to participate in, other members were required to participate with their full and undivided attention.  The family members included 3 adults and five kids from 3-16 years old and one 4 year old Golden Retriever.  Here's the activity list and order of the day:

• Build two snow forts (We had lots of snow!)
• Have a snowball fight between the two forts
• Go to Angels Restaurant for hot chocolate and hot lunch
• Go sledding on the big hill at Memorial Park
• Make Christmas cookies and eat almost all of them (saved some for neighbor)
• Eat dinner - hot soup from the crock pot
• Go Christmas caroling with cookies at the neighbors
• Story time with Grandma (The Kingdom of LunHanHouHow)

We all helped build the snow forts and all participated in throwing and receiving snowballs!  Some people cried because they were getting hit too much, but they were resourceful and went and got a bicycle helmet to wear. 

The kids love this particular restaurant and with our appetite worked up, everyone ate everything and even asked for more! 

The sledding was a big hit for everyone, but Grandma thinks the hills have gotten bumpier since her kids were little. 

Believe it or not, the 16 year old boy wanted to make the cookies, I suppose just so he could eat them and maybe so he didn't have to do something outside in the cold December winter.  In any case, the cookies were a big hit.

It was Grandpa's idea to go Christmas caroling.  We had warned told the neighbor we were coming ahead of time and when we arrived, the littlest one was mesmerized y the beautiful Christmas tree and other decorations around the house, and the neighbor looks like Mrs Claus, so he took off his shoes and decided to stay a while.  We sang and exchanged Christmas cookies (we weren't expecting to get cookies, but oh well, the more the merrier!), and had a jolly old time. 

Then it was back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for storytime.  I told the story of The Kingdom of LunHanHouHow, which was the story of how my parents came to America from Norway.  I pretended my parents were King and Queen, and I used YouTube videos to show them how the ship sailed on the stormy seas from Norway to America, and we learned some Norwegian Christmas songs.  We tried to dress the part, Grandpa even wearing knickers for authenticity.  :) At the end of the story, I dubbed all the children and grandchildren either Angels (remember the Angels restaurant?) or Princes.  (My kids were Princes (dubbed the Prince of Strength and Knowledge) and my grandkids were Angels - Angels of Serentiy, Happiness, Adventure, etc.).  Each one received a small gift (because we're Grandma and Grandpa and we couldn't help ourselves) as they were dubbed with a Star Wars light saber (from my oldest son's favorite movie).

The planning and scheduling took some effort, we started after church on a Sunday, around Noon, and finished around 9PM.  I'm sure sleep came easy and not a creature was stirring that night. 

This event has brought about a new tradition in our family, one of sharing some quality family time together, enjoying each other's company more fully, and has eliminated entirely the commercialization of Christmas. 

Alternatively, you may wish to choose 2 or 3 main activities that everyone agrees on.  Simplify the process a little bit if a lot of people are involved.  Every year will be different and memorable in its own way.  You can make this as easy or as elaborate as you wish. 

For me, this was truly a Miracle of Christmas.  It has been the best Christmas I've ever had and I will treasure the memory of it forever, in this life and the life in the hereafter, I'm sure.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may the spirit of the Miracles of Christmas be part of your holiday season now and forevermore. 

See Part 1:  The Miracles of Christmas - The Plan

See Part 2:  58 Miracles of Christmas - Ideas to get you started

This is Part 3:  After the Miracles of Christmas - Our personal story - how did it go (published after Christmas 2009)

Part 2 - The Miracles of Christmas - 58 Ideas

 

- Meaningful ways to celebrate Christmas and other Holidays

Part 2 - 58 Miracles of Christmas ideas to get you started  

You are reading Part 2 of a 3 part post - with Part 3 coming after the 2009 Christmas holiday.  Please check back to hear our personal story after the holidays.

The Miracles of Christmas is a new way to celebrate a more meaningful Christmas or other Holiday.  The idea is to allow one Christmas/Holiday wish per person and then to give that person the undivided attention and participation of the whole family or group for an allotted time period, agreed upon by all.  If you have a large family, you may wish or need to spread this out over a couple days, and if you have a small family; you may choose to allow more time for each person.  You create the guidelines.

Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2009, our family came up with a new and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.  After bringing it up and discussing it with my spouse over Thanksgiving breakfast, we decided we should discuss the idea with the rest of the family - they loved the idea!  The fact we all agreed that it was at least a good idea in theory, is a miracle in and of itself.   The idea is about making dreams and wishes come true, it’s about The Miracles of Christmas, and it might even make a Scrooge look forward to Christmas again.  Perhaps this will be the Christmas or Holiday celebration of your future.  Of course this theme may be used at other holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, you name it. 

58 Miracles of Christmas ideas:

1.    Visit an ice skating rink, sledding or ski hill
2.    Have a snowball fight
3.    Build a snowman or snow fort
4.    Make snow angels
5.    Make a live nativity scene using members of the family
6.    Go around the neighborhood singing Christmas Carols
7.    Visit someone in the hospital or a nursing home
8.    Do something for a neighbor or friend in need with the help of your family
9.    Make Christmas special for someone else or a family in need
10.    Take a walk in a nature preserve or state park
11.    Feed the birds
12.    Go for a bike ride
13.    Go horseback riding
14.    Go for a sleigh ride
15.    Make the holiday lunch
16.    Go out for the holiday lunch
17.    Take a Nap (smart adults will pick this one)
18.    Collect pine cones for your tree or decoration
19.    Decorate the Christmas Tree
20.    Hang Christmas lights
21.    Play board or card games
22.    Play Dress-Up
23.    Dance
24.    Sing
25.    Write new songs
26.    Re-write the lyrics to some old songs
27.    Tell Jokes
28.    Take pictures
29.    Create scrapbook photo albums
30.    Look at old photos or videos
31.    Tell old stories
32.    Cut out paper snowflakes
33.    Have family members write down what they're thankful for - save from year to year
34.    Keep a journal and write down thoughts at the end of the day
35.    Watch your favorite movie with your whole family
36.    Watch a Christmas cartoon while stringing popcorn and cranberries for the tree
37.    Create a movie with your video camera
38.    Make something
39.    Create Prayer Jars (prayers go in jars - fun to read later in life and see how they were answered)
40.    Do something from another culture
41.    Spend your hour coloring pictures with your family
42.    Perform a magic show or play or puppet show for your family
43.    Show off your Pets
44.    Hang Mistletoe and kiss everybody
45.    Propose to your Sweetie
46.    Recreate a holiday tradition from your native land or your youth
47.    Make the holiday evening meal
48.    Go out for the holiday evening meal
49.    Make the holiday evening meal with full family participation
50.    Dress up as St. Nicholas (Santa Claus)
51.    Read the Christmas Story or talk about the true meaning of Jesus' birth
52.    Teach everyone a special craft, such as how to make a special dish like Pie Crust or Lefse or…
53.    Decorate the Christmas Cookies
54.    Build a Gingerbread House
55.    Take your family to a free (doesn't have to be free if you can afford it) concert or holiday event
56.    Light a whole bunch of candles or sit by the fireplace and enjoy the peacefulness of it
57.    Have some Hot Chocolate and take a driving tour to view the Christmas lights
58.    Enjoy the miracles and the blessings of the day.

Please feel free to share your ideas by leaving a comment below - I would love to hear from you.

This is Part 2:  58 Miracles of Christmas - Ideas to get you started

See Part 1:  The Miracles of Christmas - The Plan

See Part 3:  After the Miracles of Christmas - Our personal story - how did it go (published after Christmas 2009)

Part 1: The Miracles of Christmas - The Plan

- Meaningful ways to celebrate Christmas and other Holidays

Part 1:  The Miracles of Christmas plan

Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2009, our family came up with a new and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.  After bringing it up and discussing it with my spouse over Thanksgiving breakfast, we decided we should discuss the idea with the rest of the family - they loved the idea!  The fact we all agreed that it was at least a good idea in theory, is a miracle in and of itself.   The idea is about making dreams and wishes come true, it’s about The Miracles of Christmas, and it might even make a Scrooge look forward to Christmas again.  Perhaps this will be your Christmas of the future.  Of course this theme may be used at other holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, you name it. 

The Miracles of Christmas is a new way to celebrate a more meaningful Christmas or other Holiday.  The idea is to allow one Christmas/Holiday wish per person and then to give that person the undivided attention and participation of the whole family or group for an allotted time period, agreed upon by all.  If you have a large family, you may wish or need to spread this out over a couple days, and if you have a small family; you may choose to allow more time for each person.  You create the guidelines.

This is a 3 part post - with Part 3 coming after the 2009 Christmas holiday.  Please check back to hear our personal story after the holidays.

The Miracles of Christmas Plan:

•    This may be done as a family, as a group of friends, or as a ministry toward a select group of individuals.
•    Have family members, or your group of friends, think of something meaningful to them that they would like to do at Christmas.  Family/group members could take the attitude that they will move heaven and earth to make it happen – within reason of course.
•    Make a list and check it twice.
•    Pay no attention to who’s naughty or nice – it’s not about that – it’s about miracles.
•    Each person gets one hour, or an agreed upon period of time, to enjoy their Christmas Miracle with the assistance and undivided attention of all the others.
•    The time allotment will depend on how large the group is.
•    It's important that ideas are not rejected out of hand, or because they're impractical or too expensive.
•    At first everyone should brainstorm and then gradually narrow their ideas down to the ones that are reasonable and feasible. 
•    All should be reasonable in their requests and not be disappointed if an idea must be filed away for another time. 
•    No one gets to lord it over anyone else or ask someone to be their slave for an hour. 
•    People should be considerate and invite participation or simply allow family/group members to be spectators. 
•    It could happen that 2 or 3 decide to combine their Christmas wish and then 2-3 hours would be spent on that activity.
•    It does not need to involve much money.
•    It may be that someone finds buying a new toy is meaningful, so be it. 
•    Keep the miracle list for future reference – it may be used at birthdays or other special occasions.
•    Start this process on Thanksgiving Day or a couple weeks before the holiday to get it all decided and worked out before Christmas.  Or I suppose one could be thinking about it all year. 
•    You may wish to establish a rule that small children have to wait til they're 5 or 6 years old before they can choose their own event, parents or other family members would choose something for them, or they would just be a participant in everyone else's hour. 
•    Do whatever works, make adjustments to the plan as you see fit
•    Prior to the big day, plan out the Christmas Miracles in a coordinated way, wasting no time, planning for meals, naps, potty breaks, travel, forgetfulness, and other little issues that may pop up during the day. 

This is Part 1:  The Miracles of Christmas - The Plan

See Part 2:  58 Miracles of Christmas - Ideas to get you started

See Part 3:  After the Miracles of Christmas - Our personal story - how did it go (published after Christmas 2009)