Prasanta's December 2021 Newsletter

Dec 24, 2021

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Chai Chat
December 2021 Edition

In this issue…

1. An Airport Scare: My harrowing airport experience and what I learned. 2. How to Celebrate Christmas with People of Other Cultures: Practical tips to include others in your holiday celebrations. 3. Author Highlight: Learn about author Mitali Perkins and her books. 4. Poem: The Risk of Birth by Madeleine L’Engle. 5. Advent/Christmas Devotional: A devotional I wrote plus the link to the entire free devotional download.

An Airport Scare

I was in the Atlanta airport just before Thanksgiving week when rumors of an active shooter circulated, forcing all inside to evacuate. I dropped off my luggage with the skycap in front of the terminal, something I usually don’t do, but there was no line there, so I thought it might save time. After I dropped off my bags I walked inside, making my way to the security checkpoint. The line snaked through many ropes and was interminably long—I made a quick stop to the restroom before getting in that long line.

I could hear some sort of commotion outside, and then someone came in the restroom in tears. When I stepped out of the restroom, the entire airport was empty. It looked like a scene from a science fiction movie: pieces of luggage strewn across the floor, a haphazard array of various items, with a hollow sound echoing through the large hall. The security guard told the few of us left to evacuate but didn’t tell us why. Another gal next to me said there was a rumor of an active shooter. I heard, as time went on, several reports of gunshots.

Active shooter? Could this really be happening right now? I walked briskly toward the exit doors, my mind quickly assessing the situation. I was leaving Atlanta after visiting family, and all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind. What do I tell them? Do I call them now? As I walked briskly outside, I called my sister to let her know what was going on. When I looked to my right, a huge mob of people ran screaming outside of that entrance. My sister said, “You should run, too.” I had no idea what was going on, but chose to run toward the parking deck, along with everyone else. It was the only other sheltered place besides the terminal.

I stood (and sometimes sat) behind a wall in the parking deck, along with many others, with no actual knowledge of what was truly going on. My phone battery was gradually dying, and the WiFi and cellular networks were bombarded with all of us on our phones, so I was unable to connect to any outside websites for news or information. I used my little precious battery life to keep connected to family to let them know I was safe at regular intervals.

Flights were grounded, no cars came through—all the normal bustling activity of an airport came to an abrupt halt. Nor were there any signs of law enforcement or policemen. I had expected to see the airport swarming with some sort of response team and was baffled to see nothing of the sort. I could only assume they were around, but out of sight.

In the end, we waited outdoors for over two hours with no word on what was going on, no instructions, and no information. Finally after two hours, an airport employee announced over the outdoor speakers that there was no threat to us, and to keep waiting outside. A few minutes later we were allowed back inside the terminal, so hundreds of us thronged back indoors. Suddenly, the line that I thought was long earlier looked minuscule, because now the line to the security checkpoint was hundreds upon hundreds of people long and stretched all the way through the length of the terminal. Somehow, I made it through on time to catch flight, which had been delayed—and I arrived just in time to board.

It was a harrowing experience. It turns out there was no active shooter, but there had been a gun and shots were fired. A passenger had a handgun that was discovered during security check. While the TSA agent was inspecting the suitcase, the passenger leaped forward and grabbed his gun out of the suitcase, and in doing so, the gun fired. He took his gun and ran away through the airport. This event resulted in mass chaos, confusion, and evacuation.

Thankfully, in this case, it turned out not to be an active shooter, but it was traumatic for many of us there. Since that incident happened, there was a driver who ran over some folks at a holiday parade in Waukesha, WI, a school shooting in Michigan, and other shootings and sad and difficult events in the news.

It’s hard. It’s horrific. It’s heartbreaking. As I process all of these events, I was reminded recently of an important truth. Despite what it feels like or seems like, the truth is that yes, horrible things do happen (and will happen), but yet there are also so, so many good and wonderful and beautiful things. This is not to minimize the horrific events, but we are exposed constantly online to the evil and the bad, and much less to the good, leading us to a state of hopelessness and despair about the world.

I’ve been thinking a great deal lately about this. Although these tragic events get more attention, and not to minimize the devastation of them and trauma that results, they are mostly the exception and not the norm. I needed reminders by objective people that active shooters are not the norm—especially because my brain was processing that ordeal at the airport. When we’re constantly exposed to negativity in the news and in social media, we think that this is all there is. Slipping into a state of despair and depression, we think all is hopeless and the world is in chaos.

While we don’t live in a perfect world, far from it, the facts are that the numbers and data reveal that these are the exception rather than the norm. The fact that they happen at all is distressing, but most days (for most of us), we go to the store, go to school, go to work, etc., in relative safety, and this is repeated millions of times a day all over the world. I am fully aware that this is a first world privilege—folks in war-torn countries and other places do not live this kind of peaceful life.

That was helpful for me to remember and think about when I started to feel unsafe, vulnerable, and scared about going outdoors. Would I encounter an active shooter again during my daily activities? I could see how giving into fear of going outside could paralyze me.

I did think about steps I could take to make myself more prepared next time. I realized during that incident I had no idea what to do in the event of an active shooter situation. Afterwards, I thought maybe I should take a class or have some training—or at the minimum, read a few articles about what to do in active shooter situation. Our children who are in K-12 schools are going through active shooter training. I didn’t have to do that when I was a child, but children today must do so. It’s a sobering and sad reality.

Another thing I realized was how stressful it was with a phone battery that dies so quickly. My phone battery is only a year old (that’s another story), but I ended up buying a portable charger to carry with me while traveling for peace of mind. It was a direct result of that airport incident.

The message of this season is one of hope. The truth is, there is beauty in this world (broken as it is), and there is hope. We don’t have to define ourselves by this evil. We don’t run on despair. We don’t run on fear. We run on hope. And while there are bad things, there are far, far more beautiful and hopeful things to believe in and notice. Even in the face of dire need and diversity, we can find daily bursts of hope keeps us going.

Viktor E. Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning writes, “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” What is your why? (If you haven’t read the book, by the way, written by a Holocaust survivor, I highly recommend it). Amidst the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust, these survivors found some meaning and hope of a thread for the “why” of staying alive. It kept them going. It gave them hope.

The point here is not to compare atrocities and difficulties. We all have hard journeys and unbearable pain and suffering. We bear witness to difficult things in our own lives and the lives of others. But that is not the end, and it doesn’t have to define us.

Maybe you’re searching for meaning and hope. That is ok. The journey for hope and asking questions are all ok. When tragedies happen and our lives unravel, sometimes we realize the answers we had weren’t the right ones, or we start to question everything we know or were taught about God, about ourselves, or about the world. Sometimes our journeys in life propel us to ask deeper questions.

In the end, we enlarge, and don’t grow smaller. As we ask questions, we learn, and we grow. Our view of the world expands, as well as our view of God. Embrace the doubts, the questions—and yes, even the adversity. (I need this message as much as anyone else.)

We can’t know what awaits us tomorrow—maybe there will be an active shooter, a car accident, a diagnosis, or a ruptured relationship. We know that darkness exists. Yet we also know that light exists.

I do know this: the smallest bit of light can break through the darkest place.

During this season, if you find yourself wondering and searching, questioning or grieving, may you find that little bit of light to keep you going.

How to Celebrate Christmas with People of Other Cultures and Backgrounds

Christmas is celebrated all over the world, by people of all faiths and backgrounds. This is an opportune time to meet with people from all backgrounds and cultures, and to share traditions and cultural practices. Christmas is a time of year when folks are open to hearing about the message of Christmas. Below are some ways you can meaningfully share the holidays with others:

Invite an international student or family over for dinner or dessert over the holiday break. They are often curious about how Americans celebrate Christmas and seeing the inside of an American home, and would love to be invited and be part of your celebration. Even now, Afghan refugees are being resettled in different parts of the country. Even if English is an issue, your extension of hospitality will be a memory that will keep for a lifetime. If English isn’t an issue, you can swap stories about holidays and celebrations.

If dinner or dessert in your home isn’t an option, invite them out for coffee or tea at a local coffee shop and share stories. Be curious, and ask questions about how they celebrate holidays or festivals in their culture.

Offer to take an international student, refugee, or immigrant family Christmas shopping. They often don’t have cars and rely on friends or public transportation.

Invite an international student, friend, refugee, or immigrant for a drive to look at the holiday lights in your city or community. To maintain social distance or if weather doesn’t allow, take a walk in a neighborhood decorated with lights.

Learn how other cultures celebrate Christmas and the holidays. Check out books from the library, try out ethnic food, or try cooking ethnic dishes at home. Pro-tip: Check out children’s books about how other countries celebrate Christmas. You can learn quickly about other traditions around the world. This is a great way to include children, too.

Get a group together to go Christmas caroling and invite your international friends along. Even if they don’t know the songs, they will enjoy celebrating this Christmas tradition with you. Print out sheets with the words and spread some cheer!

Invite a person from another culture to a holiday concert or show. There are many free concerts and shows this time of year—do a search in your community. You could also invite an international friend to your local school Christmas concert or show—especially if your child is participating. Invite them to your church for the Christmas services.

Have a hot cocoa and game night. Invite a few international friends or friends from different cultures and play games. You’ll learn so much about each other just from playing games. And your guests will enjoy the experience and being included with your family. (Apples to Apples or CatchPhrase are two good group options for multicultural groups).

Share Christmas with others who are different from you! Pick one or two of these ideas—but consider doing something different this year that expands your cultural knowledge and involves someone else from a different background or culture than your own. It doesn’t have to be fancy or cost money—it can be as simple as meeting for a cup of coffee. What other activities would you add to the list above? It could be the beginning of a growing friendship and wonderful memories.

Author Highlight: Mitali Perkins

Each month, I highlight an author (or other person) for you to follow and get to know. This month, I’d like to introduce you to award-winning author, Mitali Perkins. Perkins writes stories for young children and young adults, and has several award-winning, lovely titles I’d love to share with you.

This month, I did a giveaway of a couple of her books, Rickshaw Girl andYou Bring the Distant Near. You Bring the Distant Near, a young adult novel, was interesting for me because the immigrant story resonated with me on several levels. Rickshaw Girl Is a delightful tale of a young girl in Bangladesh, and is a story of courage and love—I loved it. And, it’s just been made into a movie, which I think is absolutely wonderful. I hope we get to see it on Netflix one day soon. Perkins has a list of other lovely books for you to discover, including a recent nonfiction title for adults, titled “Steeped in Stories”, a book which takes a deep dive into some of our favorite childhood books—and it’s making me think and see those stories in a new way.

If you’re looking to add some more titles in your children and young adult library, take a look at these wonderful books. They feature lead characters from Asia and increase cultural awareness, too.

Moreover, Perkins’ books have won a whole array of awards. Rickshaw Girl has won the following accolades: New York Public Library’s “100 Best Children's Books of the Past 100 Years”, Jane Addams, Honor Book, Maine Library Association Lupine Honor Book, ALA Amelia Bloomer Project Award Book, Bank Street Best Children's Books List (Starred), Association of Children's Booksellers Best Book.

You Bring the Distant Near has won the following awards: Nominated for the National Book Award * Winner of the South Asia Book Award * Walter Award Honor for Teen Literature * PW Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Horn Book Fanfare List * Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year * NYPL Best Book of the Year * Boston Globe Best Book of the Year * ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * Mississippi Magnolia Award * Six starred reviews: ★ Horn Book ★ School Library Journal ★ Publishers Weekly ★ Booklist ★ Shelf Awareness ★ VOYA

You won’t see her touting these accomplishments on her own, but the list is impressive and I’m thrilled these titles received these honors, and wanted you to know. : ) You can connect with Mitali Perkins on her Author Facebook Page, Instagram @mitaliperkins or Twitter @MitaliPerkins. I’d love to hear back from you if you’ve read any of these titles or plan to do so. Happy reading!

Poem: The Risk of Birth by Madeleine L’Engle

The risk of birth

This is no time for a child to be born.
With the earth betrayed by war and hate
And a nova lighting the sky to warn
That time runs out and the sun burns late.

That was no time for a child to be born.
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour and truth were trampled by scorn—
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by greed and pride the sky is torn—
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

Advent/Christmas Devotional

I had the privilege of writing a devotional for my church this Advent season. Here it is:

Expect the Unexpected

Read Isaiah 35:3-7

A few years ago I visited Yellowstone National Park, a landscape of unique, alien beauty: geysers gushing out the ground, dangerous acidic pools, hot springs, and full of creatures roaming the grounds. I felt as if I were on another planet, far removed from the familiar land I was used to in the Midwest, surrounded by uncommon flora and fauna.

It was a place of unexpected and surreal beauty. It’s also unexpected to read in Isaiah 35 of someone who is blind being able to see, and deaf ears able to hear. It’s unimaginable to think of the lame leaping and mute tongues speaking. I want to believe that water can gush forth from a desert and a desert can become a pool of refreshing water. I want to believe the unimaginable—but it’s hard sometimes in the midst of difficult life circumstances, where a solution or a healing or some way forward looks next to impossible.

I heard an author and speaker say recently that we suffer from an “impoverished imagination”. In other words, if we can’t imagine it, then it can’t be possible. Yet that’s the exact thing we’re reading in this passage—impossibilities—and we’re told that these unbelievable, seemingly impossible things will be true one day, and we should expect it.

Life here on earth already seems like a miracle, when I consider how much could go wrong and how I’m able to breathe and take another step each day, and how this earth keeps spinning with some sort of controlled plan in place that I can’t fully comprehend. Yet we’re told here in these few words that we can expect even more than this. We can expect the unexpected, the miraculous, the complete opposite of what we’re used to everyday.

I want to see dry ground bursting forth and wilderness singing around me in abundance and celebration. Wow! I can’t imagine it—but it helps me to know that a day of rejoicing and healing awaits that is unimaginable—and it’s what this season and Christ’s birth is all about.

For Personal Reflection: What unexpected joys have you witnessed or heard of in your lifetime? What steps can we take to grow our “impoverished imaginations” to believe the impossible?

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You can read the devotional (and the other posts in the devotional series) here, and download a free pdf of all of them.

Have a wonderful, beautiful, safe, and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Popular on Social media - click here: Empathy is a gift we can give all year long

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Until next month’s Chai Chat!

Make it a lovely one,

Prasanta

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