Now We Never Walk Alone
Good morning... Emmanuel, God-with-us, is born anew today. God humbles himself to put on skin, to grow up with us, to walk beside us, to quietly guide us. Christ's footprint mirrors our footprint, wherever slushy, sloppy circumstances greet us at rise of sun. Day after day, night after night, God's experience gently mirrors our experience so we never walk alone. Ever. Never ever. Sometimes we catch a tangible glimpse of the ever presence [...]
Steve’s Birthday Surprise
Good morning... Fifty-eight years ago today, my husband Steve surprised his parents by arriving three weeks early. From the pulpit as a Presbyterian minister, his father was able to announce a double meaning at each Christmas Eve service, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given!" Fast forward to now. Do you remember that early in December I thoroughly enjoyed a pop-up Christmas shop in the home of my [...]
Are You Tired Too?
Good morning... Over the phone, she describes in detail her favorite painting of the newborn Jesus with his mom and dad. She notices the image as her guide for this unusual Christmas. She begins, "It's a dingy stable room instead of a soft warm space. The setting reminds me of the small, one room apartments we would encounter when we served in Uganda. Bare. Concrete. A few steps up to a metal door." [...]
I Just Feel Really Sad
Good morning... "Every year since we've been married, we've traveled to see our families," she said over the phone yesterday. "Today is the day we always leave, we head up north, we go to my parent's home to gather with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then we spend time with my husband's family. For the first time, we are not heading up there at all. My dad has no immune system and, [...]
Follow Tonight’s Christmas Star
Good morning... From a handful of people whom I love dearly, I was forwarded the following email over the past week. The Christmas Star appearing this year on December 21 is making news. It is amazing that this occurrence is in the year 2020. In the year when Jesus was born there was violence, chaos, political and social unrest. It was dark. The Magi found Him by way of the star which was [...]
Songs Of This Sacred Season
Good morning... Tonight Northside Church presents Christmas Candlelight Vespers 2020. Tune in from the comfort of your home on Sunday at 6:00PM. No registration required. This evening of Christmas choral music and carol arrangements will include a professional chamber choir joined by a string quartet, pianos, and organ. Our theme, "Christ’s Light, Eden’s Bloom,” will bring music of joy, comfort, hope, and encouragement as we celebrate this season of God’s love. Watch the [...]
Friendship Matters
Good morning... Her family is taking new form this holiday season as she experiences the two sided coin of her recent divorce. Old fears and new freedoms. Old hurts and new hopes. Old memories and new meaning. Though we are unable to gather in our living room for our weekly class, we walk and talk privately, regularly, with our dogs by our sides. I am amazed at our resilience, our mutually beneficial friendship, [...]
Tucked In Between
Good morning... Writing yesterday's blog post, Grass Isn't Always Greener, I was tucked in between two life-giving emails. Before I began writing around 4:30 am, I read the following encouragement from my eighty-seven year old friend. Sue, Thank you for including me in your blog, which cheered me up, once again in the story of our Lord's birth. There is no record of Mary's complaining in her circumstances. I can't imagine going through [...]
Grass Isn’t Always Greener
Good morning... "The grass isn't always greener on the other side," whispers my most recent Goodwill find. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of losing a job, releasing a loved one to heaven, facing life following an accident, an illness, physical diminishment. The grass isn't always greener on the other side when an alcoholic can't quit, when anxiety and depression spiral down, when divorce rears its head to ravage a [...]
Craving Yes. Getting No.
Good morning... She said, "I'm relating more keenly to Mary and Joseph this COVID Christmas." She went on to explain her line of thinking. After a long, uncomfortable, cross country trek, jostling on a donkey nine months pregnant, Mary and Joseph finally arrived at the inn. Their stopping place. The end to their grueling journey. Relieved to have arrived, finally they would be able to rest, to catch their breath, to prepare for [...]
The Ugliest Necklace
Good morning... At Goodwill, pre-pandemic, I was drawn to the ugliest necklace I have ever seen. Gaudy and overcrowded. Heavy and weighed down. Haphazardly strung together and hanging on by a thread. As I picked up the necklace, examining the creation more closely, I admired the individual stones. Natural, God-made gems. Each gemstone was unique, size, shape, and color. If they did not need to compete on the same crowded strand, might these [...]
Give Heartfelt Gifts
Good morning... The three of us get together each Advent to share a meal and exchange heartfelt gifts. Creatively continuing our tradition during COVID, she decorated her garage with red bows, calming light, wide open doors, and a beautifully dressed table beside a space heater. The atmosphere was warm and exquisite, enhancing the homemade food and our long, loving friendship. It has been a challenging year. One friend recently lost her father and [...]