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Christmas Refl ection: Tomorrow Is the Day It All Begins
Tomo ow Is THE DAY en It A Begins
A CHRISTMAS REFLECTION
By Dr. Kathleen Sullivan
Tingles trickle down my arms like the ice crystals melting in the frost as my fi ve-year-old self huddles excitedly in the small chair by the window. A smile crinkles the corners of my mouth and I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, hoping to hear those distant Santa sleigh bells, and maybe the scuffl ing sounds of a reindeer’s hoof on our rooftop. A scratching sound against the side of our house startles my eyes open. Th e thought that it is merely the bare branches of the tree outside tapping the shutters never enters my mind; my imagination has already taken hold. I squash my face against the glass, trying to peer into the winter darkness. A single streetlight shines a soft halo of light on the still street below. Th e few cars lining the sides of the road are covered in a calm of snow. Th e small fl akes fall gently, the lights of the neighbor’s house glow warmly, and the candles in the window fl icker and wink as if they were alive.
“Christmas!” I breathe excitedly as I search among the stars in the night sky, but no sign of the awaited St. Nicholas in his Santa Claus suit; no red nose of Rudolph do I see. No matter. I know the chocolate-chip cookies await Santa downstairs next to the glass of cold milk, which of course will never grow warm throughout the night. I also know the reindeer will get a treat when they stop at our house since I left a nice little bunch of bright orange carrots on our snowy porch. Th e gifts and guests would arrive the next day, and how I wish they were already here. I’m ready and the house is ready. “Tomorrow is the day when it all begins!” I whisper as I scurry back to the cozy warmth of my bed, cuddling the many stuff ed animals residing there. Th e race between sleepiness and wakefulness commences, and although close, sleep at last happily wins in the end.
Little did I know that my childhood excitement on Christmas Eve would grow and deepen over the years. Th e same allurement would draw me to the window on cold winter evenings, the same kaleidoscope of streetlights, house lights, and starlight would shine in the darkness for my excited eyes, but wonderingly, there was a diff erence in that sameness. Th e years passed, the room decor changed, the stuff ed animals that once cluttered my bed were whittled down to three favorites, then two, then none. Th e carrots that were once left outside for Donner and Blitzen were now kept in the refrigerator as my old-soul-self smiled with aff ectionate condescension at the youthful innocence of my younger self. Th e cookies no longer were saved for Santa but were now consumed as necessary sustenance for the energies of tree-decorating.
Yet these external changes were merely the signs of a more surprising internal change. For, according to form and formula, it truly became more exciting to see the excitement of the kids in our ever-expanding family circle to open their gifts than it did for me to open mine. I stayed awake in wonder not of Santa and his team of coursers, but of Mary and Joseph, searching for a place in that piercing cold and darkness to bring forth the Light of the World. My eager gazing though the frosted window was not directed toward the neighboring houses’ twinkling Christmas lights, but upward to the twinkling lights of the stars as I thought about the shepherds and magi following the Star of Bethlehem. My excited anticipation for gifts and guests to arrive became an anticipation for the arrival of a most precious gift, a most beloved guest. I had discovered that my Christmas joy, once focused inwardly on myself, had turned outward to delight in others’ joys. Th en, as the years continued, that Christmas movement unexpectedly turned inward once more. Th is new kind of interior epiphany was familiar, yet strange at the same time.
It made me think of T.S. Eliot’s verse in his poem Little Gidding from the Four Quartets. Eliot writes, “We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the fi rst time.” How true is this claim! Th inking of my over-confi dent teenage self entering college, walking forward without the comforting parental handrail guiding my every step, I knew that my academic adventures would expand my world and my mind,
and it did, for learning to look outside of myself and discovering the truth that mattered led to even more discoveries, more endeavors, more encounters with ideas familiar and strange. I learned to navigate not only through the cement jungle and gymnasium of detours in D.C., constructing metaphors of life about and while driving through construction, but also through academic scholarship and literary analysis, through philosophical arguments and theological questions, through the curious grammar of student essays. Th ese unceasing explorations and travels through books and classes, through roads and years, were replete with the usual cast of challenging characters anyone faces on their quests, the moments when the motion of life seems to move backward or sideways or anywhere but forward, and yet in all the movements of mind and body, I realized that the kind of motion that mattered most happened when I was still.
So I fi nd myself sitting once more in my chair by the window on Christmas Eve. I had arrived at the place where I started, and I knew the place for the fi rst time. Th e motion was once more inward, but it was a new kind of interiority–a new eagerness and excitement. I did not wonder what gifts I would get under the tree or whether the house was ready to receive guests. I now asked whether my house was ready to receive Christ. Was my heart prepared to love with the burning Light of the World? Were my eyes ready to see salvation in a swaddled Babe? Was my mouth ready to proclaim the truth of the Incarnate Word? Th ese, the essential questions of life, kept me pondering and praying. What matters in my house matters most, but I knew now that it was not about the house with four walls. It was the house of my very self. I wanted to welcome Him inside. I wanted to receive the true Gift–Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Th e frost forms on the windowpane as my adult self still sits huddled in a chair by the window. Th e tingles on my arm begin anew, but not because of the anticipatory excitement of St. Nick or because of the December cold. A smile arises and my eyes squeeze shut, but not because I hope to hear sleigh bells this Christmas Eve. Instead, I hope to hear the beating of Christ’s heart when I unite mine with His in the Eucharist of Christmas Mass. And so I whisper with grateful longing to Our Lord in the arms of His Blessed Mother with St. Joseph at her side, “Tomorrow is the day when it all begins! Welcome. My house is ready for You.”
Raised in New England, Kathleen Sullivan traded the snowy mountains of New Hampshire for the sunny hills of California to study at Thomas Aquinas College for her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. A master’s degree in literature at the University of Dallas followed, before she attained her doctorate degree at The Catholic University of America. Throughout her studies, Dr. Sullivan taught courses in literature, composition, and rhetoric for both college and high school students. Currently an Assistant Professor at Christendom, Dr. Sullivan teaches English courses all the while embracing the Catholic community life of the College.
INSPIRING Confidence &Hope
Through the prayers and generosity of its supporters, Christendom has been able to fl ourish, even in 2020. Christendom’s benefactors understand that life is not to be lived behind the glow of an electronic screen, and they are helping the next generation of Catholics live out this truth. While most of the world has delved deeper into the virtual realm in recent months, Christendom has preserved its in-person education, which is integral to the mental, moral, and spiritual formation of students. Th rough their support, Christendom benefactors are ensuring that students can pursue wisdom and holiness in joyful community.
BENEFACTORS RALLY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID
Th e events of 2020 have taken a fi nancial toll on many individuals and families. If it were not for the generosity of Christendom benefactors, some students may not have been able to return for the fall semester due to unpredicted fi nancial struggles.
Christendom’s benefactors rallied in support, and through the “ZERO Federal Funding” campaign, rapidly raised over $750,000 to be used for emergency fi nancial aid, enabling every student to resume his or her education this fall.
While other colleges and universities collected giant bailouts through the CARES Act, Christendom remained committed to rejecting federal funds. Th anks to benefactors, Christendom’s classrooms remain unhindered by the strings of federal funding, even in a time of fi nancial upheaval.
CHRISTENDOM SETS NEW RECORD FOR ENROLLMENT
Th e mass shift to virtual learning in recent months has highlighted the importance of in-person education and community life. Now more the importance of in-person education and community life. Now more than ever, students are seeking an intellectual home and transformative than ever, students are seeking an intellectual home and transformative education. As a result, Christendom reached a record student enrollment education. As a result, Christendom reached a record student enrollment in 2020 despite the many challenges presented by this past year, including in 2020 despite the many challenges presented by this past year, including a 4% decrease in enrollment on the national level. Th e admissions a 4% decrease in enrollment on the national level. Th e admissions team went above and beyond to connect with students and parents, team went above and beyond to connect with students and parents, answering questions and forging relationships, even when visiting campus was not possible. As a result, Christendom met its goals
and welcomed 158 new students this fall, with a total of 525 students enrolled.
“Th is fall marks a record year for enrollment at Christendom,” shared Director of Admissions Sam Phillips. “Christendom’s educational apostolate can only truly be off ered in person, with students studying together and challenging each other to be better leaders and better Catholics. Our students are eager for that kind of learning environment . . . and many have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to study in person this fall.”
Th e social and cultural events hosted by the Student Activities Council (SAC) exist for more than mere entertainment. Th ese
events are meant to foster genuine friendship and camaraderie among the college community. Given the mission of these events, members of SAC worked hard to ensure that student
events would be able to continue. From coming up with new ideas for events that could be held outdoors, to fi nding ways to make sure students had more room to safely distance, SAC took the necessary steps to ensure that these events could continue as a vital part of the student experience.
FALL ROME SEMESTER CONTINUES
While most colleges and universities canceled their study abroad programs this fall, Christendom decided to continue the Rome program with appropriate precautions to ensure the health and safety of the students, faculty,
and staff . After quarantining in a beautiful villa in the Italian countryside, twenty-two students began their semester in Rome. Many museums and churches remained open, but without the long lines and crowds of tourists that are characteristic of Rome. Th is allowed students to soak in the history and splendor of the Eternal City in a truly unique way, resulting in a rich and life-changing experience for those who participated.
PRINCIPLES CLASSES EXPAND CHRISTENDOM'S REACH
As Christendom’s student body grew this year, so did the college’s reach. Most Catholics have not had the opportunity to study the intellectual traditions of the Church, yet they crave a deeper understanding of their Catholic heritage. This
is why Christendom launched its free online Principles classes, allowing Catholics in any phase of life to experience Christendom’s rich curriculum. These classes make it possible to delve into the Catholic liberal arts right from your living room.
Th e fi rst class launched was titled Christ: Th e Center of History, taught by College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell. Soon, a core curriculum of classes will be launched in the areas of theology, philosophy, history, literature, and political science. Principles will also spread Christendom’s reach through monthly, live lectures and in-person events throughout the country.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Th anks to the prayers and support of benefactors, Christendom has expanded even in a diffi cult year, forming minds both on campus and beyond. Christendom’s ability to minds both on campus and beyond. Christendom’s ability to fl ourish even in uncertain times is a sign of hope, and of God’s fl ourish even in uncertain times is a sign of hope, and of God’s loving providence. loving providence.
