Christmas Eve Blizzard

Sounds like the beginning of one of those Christmas stories doesn't it. That the people all planned to go to their churches and pray but this year this Christmas Eve something was very different.

For the first time in many many years I'm home on Christmas Eve.
Here in Oklahoma a Blizzard came through. It started early morning
with sleet and rain and quickly turned to snow and then add in the Oklahoma
winds and you have a pretty dandy storm. It is expected 9 inches of snow before it's completed.

We here inside, warm, turkey in the oven, are almost enjoying the snow outside. The drifts have piled up against the back steps and all three are missing. Walking the dog has taken on quite a different feeling.

Usually at this time I'd be getting ready to lead a Christmas eve service, we'd share carols, communion and the Word...we would dim the lights and experience the dark as Luke 2 is read, and then the candle light would be passed, one to one until the room was
lighted by the candles and we sing silent night. More silence now in the light. And then and then and only then JOY TO THE WORLD...

I have looked out on many congregations who sing with only candlelight illuminating their faces. Some people had expressions of full-joy some still-pain and some just resting in the moment.

So now I think that we will pray and read and sing and light candles in my family here gathered. I think of my family in India already singing and celebrating. And all the Christians around the world who mark this most precious night. Joy to the World.

Next year where ever Christmas happens I'll again be singing Joy to the World.

May this Christmas bring you great great joy and peace and hope and love and healing and
the God's blessing on all you do.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey

Trinity of Time

Gathering together
We wait though impatiently
For the coming of the ONE
Who will set all people free

Singing together
We make holy the place
That tells the story
For the coming of the ONE
Who will mend broken hearts

Praying together
We open wide our hearts
So that we might hear
Our name called by
The One who is coming
Listen

Serving together
Those who need us most
We boldly tell the story
That others may hear

Of the coming of the ONE
Who was –who is -who is to be
The trinity of time
Jesus God with us
O come o come Emmanuel

God abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
december 20, 2009
@2009

Scratching where it itches

Grace and Peace this first week of Advent.
So I'm driving over to work a couple of days ago and it was foggy. The road between my home and work is fairly straight and you could see ahead though visibility was limited. On a clear day the road stretches out like ribbon candy ahead about 20 miles. You can't see the whole of it but enough. Today with the fog I hadn't been able to see very far at all. I had been thinking about the future. You know the what-if kind of wondering we do now and then. What-if-this or What-if-that. And I laughed out loud.
Why? Because on the north side of the road with a small herd of horses was a donkey scratching its neck on a fence post. One of those metal kinda pointy ones. I mean it really lined up next to it scratching. Ok, I can't say, and wouldn't try to say, that donkey looked satisfied. What did come to mind was this donkey had a problem and had right there found a solution. Itches? Scratch! Sigh, however as multi-tasking,list-making, ever-perfecting, people we often don't look for a solution to our questions that is so uncomplicated. We'd rather make lists of why-to or why-not. We'd rather consult with others about the wisdom of...
So, now, back to the road. It came to me that what I needed was not to see the whole way but just what I needed to see ahead of me to be safe to complete the journey. Only a little at a time. (trusting that overnight someone hadn't come and rolled up the road and it ended just there, add a grin.)
Life lived more simply is what we need to do in Advent. We know where the Advent road leads and we know who walks before us. We know we will sing joyfully on Christmas Eve. We believe that there is a plan for our lives and it is for good.
Enjoy this time, this very time, this very day and keep it simple.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009