Christmas Panic Approaching – Remember This!

As Christmas draws near, panic tends to strike. Is everything ready? Is everything tip-top, corners scrubbed, and casseroles prepared? Everything should be more finished, tidier, and “just right.” Meanwhile, the to-do list grows longer, even though this time of year our souls long to slow down.

Yet when I’m crafting a drum, the whole idea of perfection takes on different proportions. The same happens in nature. Everything is already perfect and exactly where it needs to be. The drum hide shows life itself: the animal’s experiences, scars, and traces that I deliberately leave visible.

These aren’t flaws – they’re reminders that I’m holding something alive and precious in my hands. No two drums are ever identical. And they’re not meant to look “flawless” or “perfect.” If I wanted to create that, I’d switch to a different product entirely. If the traces disappear, what remains? Only a shell.

There’s something here that mirrors Christmas itself. The celebration, grace, and love don’t emerge from having everything under control, polished, and complete. Often the most beautiful moment is found in the unfinished, in the so-called mistakes. In allowing ourselves and others to be exactly as we are. The drum hide and nature carry life’s traces without shame. No apologies.

Perhaps there’s room for the same grace at Christmas. That everything doesn’t need to be finished and perfectly arranged. The drum doesn’t strive for perfection. It already is perfect. Just like all of us – each a unique, special being. That could be the Christmas message.

Wishing you a relaxed and graceful Christmas!