Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Days of December

The month before Christmas is like a strobe light flashing on a dance floor; light, dark, light, dark, light, dark.... This may be the musings of a seasoned pastor or simply the ranting of a man whose beard suddenly turned white but there is something profoundly disorienting about the days of December -- like trying to find something or even someone under the flashing strobe.
  • Christmas lights burn everywhere - both secular and religious
  • We are approaching the darkest day of the year
  • Conversations at Christmas parties lift the spirit
  • Sunlight deprivation depresses
  • The candles of Advent are lit; faith, hope, love and peace
  • Putin, The Russian would-be Tsar is declared "Man of the Year" by Time.
  • The Mitchell report declares that many of our "baseball heroes" are pharmaceutical cheaters, steroid mannequins, and we pray that God will protect the Little League from their influence
  • The Porno Queen college student was raped and murdered but her assailant has been captured in Mexico
  • Christmas family gatherings will be warm and wonderful
  • The empty chairs will remind us of grief and loss
  • Joy and Pain
  • Hope and Despair
  • Love and Loneliness
  • Peace and War
  • The best of times, the worst of times, the strobe light flashes in December

And in the midst of it all, we search for something or Someone who can bring love, joy, hope and joy.

It was actually worse in Bethlehem during the unknown month of Christmas birth. Even so, in the midst of Evil, Confusion, Tyranny, and Darkness, a child was born and those who choose may still see.

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