A Soul Searching Christmas

With Christmas round the corner, the nuns began sprucing up the temple and also brought out our old Christmas tree from the storeroom to clean.

"How time flies," remarked APK.  "Another Christmas again!  I wonder what plans Head Nun has this time?"

"I'm sure she'll surprise us again this year," said the other nuns, laughing.

Together they cleaned up the tree, repaired broken branches, polished the stars and baubles and soon it looked quite presentable.  Head Nun came to look at it and was quite pleased that the nuns had done a good job.  

"Well done, nuns," she quipped.  "Christmas will be here in a few days.  I shall have a surprise for you all," she said, smiling.

"Oh, really?" gasped APK, eyes wide.  

But Head Nun wouldn't say anything more, so that evening, the nuns started speculating what "surprise" Head Nun had planned.  

"I hope she gives us some new shawls for the rainy months," said one nun.

"I wouldn't mind a new pair of socks!" said another.

"What about you, Vege Cat?  What do you want?" asked APK.

I shrugged.  "I really don't need anything," I said.  

"Sure you do," the nuns teased me.  "A new blanket, perhaps a new collar ....?"

As the days drew nearer to Christmas, the excitement among the nuns mounted.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, Head Nun called us all together and we sat down round the Christmas tree.

"Well, this is the moment you've all been waiting for," she said, smiling cheekily.  I could see the nuns trembling with excitement.  

Head Nun then brought out a large bag and said, "Some of you may be disappointed at what I'm going to give you but I can assure you they're the best gifts anyone can give."

She then put her hand in the bag and drew out a small gift box tied with a red ribbon.

"I'm going to give each one of you a box like this.  What you will find inside will be more precious than gold or silver.  I want you to keep the box and not open it until Christmas morning.  Is that clear?  "

The nuns nodded in excitement.  What could be in the box that is more precious than gold or silver?

Head Nun then distributed a box to each nun and I of course received one too.  

"Alright, now go to bed.  I shall see you all tomorrow morning.  Merry Christmas, my dears."

"Merry Christmas, Head Nun!" we chorused back.

I took my box back to my basket with me.  Of course I was dying with curiosity and couldn't wait to open it but instructions were instructions, so I controlled myself.  I could hardly sleep that night, and I'm sure the nuns couldn't either!

When I opened the box the next morning, I wasn't prepared to find what was inside.  It was a small notebook and on each page was a little something written by Head Nun in her own handwriting.  

I'm sure none of the nuns  expected this kind of present and when they appeared for breakfast, they all looked rather sheepish and were unusually quiet.

"Aah, I see from your expressions that you all have opened your boxes and seen what's inside," said Head Nun, smiling.

"Head Nun," began APK.  "We don't understand..."

"I shall explain, my dear.  You see, Christmas is not just merrymaking and giving and receiving presents.  It is also a time for reflection and  introspection.  As your leader, I am responsible for your growth and to see you attain your goal, Nirvana, which is why you became nuns in the first place, isn't that so?  My dears, all I want is for you to look deep into yourselves, ask yourselves have I progressed?  Am I one step closer to my goal?  Spend a few moments everyday contemplating on what I have written.  That's not too difficult, is it?"

Then seeing the glum looks on the nun's faces, Head Nun said, "Alright, alright.  Here's the good news.  A well-wisher has donated some warm socks for you all (here the faces of the nuns lit up) and another has donated ice cream for tonight's dinner!"

"Yay!" cheered the nuns, so it wasn't going to be such a dismal Christmas after all!

Later before going to bed, I took a closer look at what Head Nun had written (below).  Can I answer truthfully and honestly?

🤔🤔

Can I speak only what is true, kind and necessary?

Can I refrain from judging or criticizing anyone?

Can I practise patience in all situations everyday?

Can I see work as worship and do it with joy?

Can I perform at least one selfless act today?

Can I reduce my desires?

Can I avoid wasting time on gossip or negativity?

Can I consume food both in moderation and with  mindfulness?

Can I reduce my ego?

I'm still working on my answers....

Merry Christmas!