Christmas Story

A story of shepherds and angels, and yet,

Ours is a vision of shoppers and strangers.

A story historically inaccurate, and yet,

This is day which annually makes history.

A story painful beyond expectation, and yet,

The pain is where we really connect.

A story of loneliness and fear, and yet,

It is best embodied within community with great joy.

A story more misunderstood everyday, and yet,

It still offers truth, even to children.

A story about less, and yet,

It is always a story of more.

May you find more this Christmas.

A Fable: The Farmer and the Rock

Once upon a time there was a farmer who farmed a field containing a large rock.  The rock was close to the middle of the field and stood proudly for all to see, much like a iceberg in the sea.  The rock was a irritant to the farmer.  All his life he had plowed and planted around the rock.  It was always in the way, took up room, and was good for nothing.  The rock seemed to the farmer to be a constant reminder of what the farmer was not.

The farmer tried moving the rock.  It would not budge.  He tried breaking up the rock with a hammer, but it was quite large.  Year afer year the farmer battled the rock.  The rock stood. 

Years passed and the farmer finally got old and died.  But just before he died the farmer had a brilliant idea.  And so he ... (you fill in the blank.) 

As one might guess, the rock and the farmer became famous in all the land. Many people come from far away just to look at the rock and consider their own lives.  The end.

Questions to Ponder

1. How did the rock remind the farmer of his own life?
2. Were there other rocks in the same field? In other fields?
3. What did the farmers impending death have to do with his new idea?
4. Have you ever traveled to see a rock?
5 . Do you have a rock in your field?  What are you doing about it?

Fall Softly Snow

Snow does not always fall softly.

One of my mother-in-laws favorite songs is a classic Christmas song titled, "Fall Softly Snow." 

Fall Softly Snow

The verses tell the story of the Christ child born on a cold winter night and all the surrounding effects combine to tell the story.  Even the snow falls softly around the young family as the night wears on into the morning of a new day. 

Living in a new home for the first winter we have experinced many new and strange noises.  While expected, the banging and cracking noises related to wood and vinyl sideing expanding and contracting have been a surprise.  But I have to say that the wind the other evening with the snow pelting the North side of the house was not silent.  The snow was not falling softly.

Snowflakes, like our individual lives, are unique.  Each one is different, but also essentially the same.  Yes, some snow falls quiet, like a whisper, like a dream.  However other times, snow falls loud, stinging everything it touches.     Yes, maybe snow is more like people than we might think. 

To enjoy a look at some amazing snowflakes click on the link:  SnowCrystals.com

In the meantime, enjoy the snow.  It's the cold temperatures I could do without.