Oh, my goodness! I haven't posted a column since October! And yet, writing these columns is one
of my fondest passions! No apologies, however, since in the meantime I have been about the business of living. If you're reading, thanks for jumping back on board.
This is not my Christmas blog. Hopefully that is still to come. I'm not even sure if this is my
December blog, though it is indeed, December. I, like most of you, am currently in the throws
of December.....pre-Christmas preparations, completing my shopping, preparing to mail, doing
the cards, planning the baking. The Christmas decorations are all up and blazing (if you know
me, you know this to be true). In the midst of all of this, I am also in my pre-Christmas mood,
where I start to say to myself, "You need to do more Christmas reading. You need to do more
Christmas soul searching. You need to think more about what is important than what is not. You need
to slow down, take a breath, enjoy the season, the reason and the joy." So, this is my first overt
effort. Go with me, if you will. I covet your company.
I have a book called "Kneeling In Bethlehem" by Ann Weems. It was given to me thirty years ago
by the dearest of the dearest to me, Mary Limbaugh. This will probably not be the last time that I
quote this book. So beware. This book is priceless in its insight and if you have the
chance to peruse it, please do. It will prepare you for the Advent season in a very special way.
In this book, Weems takes us through the season of too much busyness, too much freneticism, into
the direction of finding Bethlehem. One of Weems' entries goes like this:
'"The whole world waits in December darkness for a glimpse of the Light of God. Even those who
snarl 'humbug' and chase away the carolers have been seen looking toward the skies.
The one who declared he never would forgive, has forgiven. And those who left home have returned,
and even wars are halted, if briefly, as the whole world looks starward. In the December darkness,
we peer from our windows, watching for an angel with rainbow wings to announce the Hope of
the World."
I guess, suffice to say, it is a season of expectancy....and not expectancy of what waits under the
tree on Christmas morning, but of what will arise in our hearts along with the re-birth of the Christ
child.
Another excerpt in Weems' book says, "In each heart lies a Bethlehem, an inn where we must
ultimately answer whether there is room or not." Wow. Just one line of an entry and yet so
powerful. Does Bethlehem really live within our hearts? And if so, does our sign read, "Vacancy"
or "No Vacancy"? Each of us must ponder that on our own.
So much of the Christmas season, if we are fortunate, revolves around gathering together to
celebrate friendship, family, love. I was fortunate this past week to gather with women with whom I have enjoyed friendship for possibly over 60 years. We ate, we laughed, we talked and reminisced about old times and were brought up to date with current lives. It was good to share this time together with girls with whom I graduated from Chester High School. It was fun and heartwarming. Though our lives have taken much different directions, we always seem to find more similarities than differences. We celebrate our pasts and our presences and even our differences. Our kinship is more important than our differences.
On somewhat the same track and yet, much different, today I attended the funeral of a very good
friend, a friend of nearly thirty years. Though sad, the service was definitely one of celebration
for the blessing of this person in our lives. Thank you, Eric, for the friendship, the laughter and the
commitment. I celebrate your life and the friendship we knew.
Wow. I have gone from the stresses of Christmas prep to the expectancy of the long awaited Jesus,
to friendship. Such a leap. Or is it? I think not.
Whatever your focus tonight, just days from Christmas, I hope and pray that you are able to find
joy and peace......that you find forgiveness where it is needed and to forgive where you need to do
so. It is so possible to forgive even if we do not accept behavior or attitude. It is so possible to
love, even where we do not find it offered or even deserved. Is this easy, simple? Gracious, no. Such a struggle. I know this because it has been given to me from above and also from dear ones along the
way who show the light of God in their lives. I am so blessed to be loved by people who humble me
with their loving spirit. And still....I struggle.
So - though this is not my Christmas column, Merry Christmas. Enjoy the days ahead with excitement and expectancy. Fight the urge to be stressed. (Note to me: Listen to myself).
It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. Don't miss it!
