Christmas at Lifelink Memphis

On the evening of December 24th, as it did on various parts of the planet, Christmas came to Lifelink Memphis.

There it was met by a unique assemblage of individuals: locals and travelers, friends and strangers, people from assorted zip codes and some who whose address was simply "the street."

They came together over a meal, one fit for a holiday, featuring turkey and ham and the assorted fixings you might expect, as well as some mysterious "greens" that you might not.*
The words and laughter of a dozen conversations filled the room as the food vacated the plates, leaving hearts and bellies alike consumed with a warm glow.

After all had eaten and gifts were given to those in need, many of the group headed out to serenade their new neighborhood.

Having spent the first eleven years of its existence in suburban Lakeland, the Lifelink community was new to midtown and excited to celebrate their first Christmas in the Cooper Young district.

If the district had known what it was in for, it might have put out more lights and perhaps a few cookies in anticipation of such a fine spectacle, but at least this year, it wasn't really prepared for what it was to receive: a midtown Christmas parade.

Billed as the First Annual Caroling Caravan, the parade consisted of two floats, designed with great care to resemble hastily decorated trucks, and a small crowd of singers trailing behind.

It wasn't exactly a glamorous affair, it's doubtful that any awards for artistic merit are in Lifelink's future, but it was fun. Several neighbors came out to enjoy the songs, and one man even stopped his vehicle in the middle of the street to declare his admiration for one of the floats.

Recipient of the "totally awesome" award from a passing motorist

When they returned to their new building, one that had housed such celebrations for nearly a hundred years, the group joined in yet more singing. Their previous street-long endeavors seemed to leave no drain on the crowd's musical enthusiasm as they culminated a night of worship with song.

Then as the last strains of melody faded into the ether, people said their goodbyes, and wished Merry Christmas upon each other, and set out for their homes. Parting their ways but yet joined in spirit, the Spirit of the holy days.**

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*That is, if you were a Memphis transplant with a culinary taste stunted by a life wasted in the western United States.

**Which is the original meaning of our word "holidays." Although, as point of clarification, let me mention that I believe that all days are equally holy or unholy depending on the attitude with which they are approached and that the true value of holidays are as a break from our routine and an opportunity to refocus ourselves upon what we really value.