New Book About Finding The True Meaning Of Christmas

Nov. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Authors Jo Lee Loveland Link and John Link have released their new book, Return of the Three Kings: Reclaiming the 12 Days from Christmas to Epiphany.  Describing the inspiration for their book, the authors said, “Like many people, we were becoming very weary of the superficiality, over-commercialization, and hustle-bustle, that Christmas has become.  We were pleased to discover Dr. Seuss wrote “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in response to his own weariness in the 60’s with Christmas commercialization.  We looked for a way to reclaim the peace, joy, wonder, mystery, and heart-connection with others we remember from our childhoods.

“We re-discovered ‘Olde Christmas’! Starting on December 25th with the story of Jesus in the Manger, the 12 Days of Christmas continues with the journey of the Three Kings or “Magi” and culminates on Epiphany, January 6th.”

“We were inspired to create a simple yet transformational ritual for all of the 12 Days to provide a pathway back to the deeper meaning of Christmas. Christmas gift giving evokes the Spirit of the gifts brought to the Christ Child by the shepherds and the Three Kings. Our simple ritual focuses on each day having a reading and giving every person a small or large gift, usually just one a day.  In our celebration, the focus of Christmas is not unwrapping mountains of gifts on one morning, but on conscious gift giving and receiving.”

Return of the Three Kings has three sections. The first section provides insight into the ancient yet vibrant history of Christmas and early Festivals of Light in the U.S. and around the world. This includes the first “War on Christmas” by the Puritans and the ghostly and dark side of Christmas in what traditionally are known as “Winter’s Tales.”  Dickens’s A Christmas Carol comes from this tradition.  The second section focuses on how to reclaim the 12 Days as a journey of spiritual discovery.   The third section describes the nuts and bolts of how to create your unique celebrations with variations for couples, individuals, and small families (with young or older children); for large and extended families, for families with adult children, and for those with family who are geographically distant or are deployed for the military or other missions.

The book concludes with celebration suggestions including readings, stories, poems and prayers from the Bible, as well as from World Religions.  “We also include secular stories for those who are not believers in a traditional sense, but who enjoy a special time to care for others and shared festivity.”

Says Jo Lee, “The 12 Days experience is not narrowly about religion.  It is about restoring the robust mystery of Christmas:  loving connections, inner adventures, rebirth, finding joy even in the dark times, and deepening awareness of our place on the planet with other beings.  There is room for all faiths – and no faith – at the abundant table of the 12 Days as we each make our own journey with the Three Kings to Bethlehem to be profoundly enriched by what we find there.”

“Return of the Three Kings is about creating a new sacred space in the Christmas holiday and removing it from the commercial timeline.” says John Link.  “Year after year, I was disappointed by the post-Christmas let-down – now we have a celebration that allows us to spend meaningful time together, extend the holiday and really get back to the Christmas Spirit.”

The authors, John and Jo Lee Loveland Link, are consultants in organizational dynamics and management to Government, Fortune 1000 Companies, small start-ups, universities, non-profit associations, and churches.  John has a M.S. in Conflict Management from George Mason University, and Jo Lee is a Master Professional in Applied Behavior Science and Adult Education through an Episcopal Church-sponsored professional program.

Return of the Three Kings:  Reclaiming the 12 Days from Christmas to Epiphany can be purchased directly in both hard copy and as e-book from Amazon.com or from Loveland & Link Press, P.O. Box 610, Middletown VA 22645          www.returnof3kings.com