The Wise Still Seek Him

A Christmas card that we just received today has the message, "The Wise Still Seek Him," and it shows a depiction of the three wise men on camels heading to Bethlehem.

The magi as we refer to the three wise men left their homes and traveled a long way from the east to follow a star.  These were men who studied the heavens and knew the movements of the solar system and yet were so amazed by the appearance of a star that they went in search of where it was leading.

And they brought with them precious, expensive gifts.  They were received by a king and did not gift the king with their gifts, so far as we know.  After they found Jesus, they presented the gifts to him, this future king, and then because of a dream did not do as they said they would (return to Herod) but instead went home by another route.  These men were godly in that they were receptive to and obeyed the message.

Today intelligence oftens pulls people away from God because it would seem that discoveries have answers for everything.  And yet, some of the most intelligent people have been pulled towards God because of their discoveries.  Because at the end of the day they realized that through science the amazing complexity of a human being was impossible to explain by mere cells and atoms. 

We too then must leave the comforts that we enjoy so much and seek out a relationship with God, give God a place in our souls, relinquish our need to control everything, trust.

I was looking at a coloring book that my grandchildren received during a recent visit to Canal Fulton when they saw Santa Claus.  It was stamped, "Toys Time Forgot."  And so I mentioned this to my son, "Oh, you went to Canal Fulton?"  And my grandson misunderstood my words.  He said, "I want to see God."  He must have thought I said, "Toys Time for God."  How sweet! How real his curiosity!  And how do we get a true glimpse of God?  Look at the face of a small child.

And I close with John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever shall believe in Him shall have life everlasting."   Amen.

The Mermaid's Tail

My granddaughter has been asking for a mermaid's tail for about two years now.  I figured she'd forget about, outgrow it, or move on -- but she perseveres.  So this year after the sticker shock of seeing that mermaid tails are going for around $40-50 at the cheapest, I figured the old sewing machine from Christmas 1960 could spit out something decent.

Isn't it funny that in the story of The Little Mermaid, Ariel wants feet and my granddaughter who has two nice feet wants a tail?  Kind of screwed up, isn't it?  It's a little like the Gift of the Magi, the famous O'Henry story where the man sells his watch to get money to buy his wife hair combs, while his wife sold her hair to buy a watch fob for her husband.  This is a story that used to be told a lot at Christmas.  But it's still relevant.

So I went to the fabric store and found something really nice, a blue-green color.  Since it was see-through I used some interfacing already in my sewing supplies.  But I kind of messed up the "pattern" and had to get some more fabric for the body part of it.  Which turned out for the best because it has stretch, although the old sewing machine didn't know how to handle the material and had fits and starts.

Still, it turned out pretty well and there was enough fabric left for a top too.  Now her mom and dad can watch her immobilized on the couch wearing her new tail and actually being happy about it.  That should last for a little while at least.

All of this talk of Christmas reminds me of how my own wishes and wants have changed.  These days I'm just overjoyed for a healthy family, for a change to get together and share some humor, for good warm food on the table, for the opportunity to worship our God.  Sure, I like "things" and have things in far more plenty than I need, but the desire to accumulate more and more material goods has diminished a lot.  And it could diminish more!!

(If you see any typos, know that I see them too, but once typed the only working computer in order to post something new does not let me go back and make corrections.  It's very humbling!)

And that last sentence is AWKWARD!

Remember those who are alone for Christmas, and pray for those who are sick or in pain.  Let us prepare ourselves as we approach the lighting of the third Advent candle this coming Sunday.

The Last Christmas

The last Christmas with my mother was in 1960.  She was 52 and not doing very well.  I was 14 and worried.

Instead of the usual live tree that we put up in the big living room window, she got one of those new-fangled aluminum trees lit up by the colored disk that turned around and around.  We went outside to see how it looked at dark.  I took a picture of it so it was immortalized.  It was hideous.

My mother just couldn't do the things she had always done, but she tried.  I'm sure she made some cookies, she ordered presents for us, and she put out some of the decorations like the white reindeer on the mantle.  No matter what, there was a sadness about that Christmas because anyone with eyes could see that my mother was fading.

We all have have this kind of story to tell -- the "lasts."  The last time for this, the last time for that, and we tend to remember because deep inside of ourselves, no matter how much denial we are working on, we knew that all was not well. 

Christmas was by far my mother's favorite holiday, and she usually went overboard.  There was Fannie Farmer candy hidden away somewhere so it wouldn't be eaten before Christmas Eve at least.  There were her marvelous cookies stored in a huge porcelain roaster.  There were the presents that she tried so hard to get just right.  There was a box of candy for the teacher at school and for the nun from CCD.  My mother loved to give! 

Yesterday they were talking about the lessons that we can learn from Nelson Mandela of South Africa.  He was asked during an interview in prison many years ago how it was that he could continue and he said they could not take away his mind.  A gentleman from South Africa said that Mandela's life was shaped by an African way of life that says more or less, "I am among others."  I'm paraphrasing here, but rather than the isolated view of, "I think therefore I am," this philosphy emphasizes how well we relate to those around us.

My mother must have embraced that kind of thinking because no matter where she went, she never forgot the people around her by being self-absorbed.  It might be African or Christian, but we do spend our lives around others.  How do we relate?

When I see the aluminum trees these days, it doesn't bring the same reaction that it did in the years following her death in March 1961.  Because I know where my mother is, and she is full of joy for her favorite holiday, Christmas, is coming.

A Little Bit of Stink

In the past couple of months, we've noticed some bugs in the house.  To be precise, we've noticed "stink bugs."  Did my husband perhaps carry one in the house on his clothes and it multiplied?  Or did they somehow find a little nest somewhere?

We don't know, but I don't like them one bit.  For one thing, they really are supposed to stink bad.  One article warned not to suck them up in the vacuum cleaner unless you were planning on emptying the bag afterwards.  Why?  When they are stressed, apparently they give off even more of their peculiar scent.  So when we catch them, they go right out a door or window.

They seem drawn to the light, and then once they touch the bulb, they fall like a rock to the floor.  The cats seem to like all of this, but they don't really mess with them.  They locate them and "point" to them kind of like those famous hunting dogs.  After all of the food we've given to them and all of the extras, they are finally doing a little work around here.

I'll keep you posted on our progress to rid the house of these annoying bugs about the size of a dime. 

Now -- onto another subject for a bit.  Last night we watched "live" theater on television as The Sound of Music was presented starring country singing star, Carrie Underwood.  It was excellent!  Ms. Underwood has a great voice, and the entire cast just sparkled.  The convent's Mother Superior was particularly good.  The sets were unbelievable.  The stained glass windows in the convent were spectacular.  I could hardly take my eyes off them.  We DVR'd it but the presentation is on sale in stores now; I believe Walmart carries them.  This was family entertainment at its very, very best.  I hope it was hugely successful and spurs on many more of these kinds of things.

It made me proud of the efforts put forth by everyone involved in the project.

I hope Julie Andrews watched and was pleased.  I forgot to mention the costumes!! 

So I'm down the basement again, and have not located the source of my error message that is messing around with the blog in the upstairs computer!!  Thing is, I have to be somewhat careful, because I know just enough to really get myself in trouble.  At least I can continue on with the blog thanks to old trusty down here. 

If you did not have a chance to see The Sound of Music, it would make a great Christmas gift for someone in your family.  Talk to you tomorrow.

Disconnected

Yet another spokesperson on television was talking last night about the "disconnect" between people, despite all of the high-tech so-called communication devices.  Duh.  I don't suppose we needed someone to tell us that.  The proof is all over the place.

And honestly, I don't see where any of it seems to make people happier!  An article the other day said that people on Facebook were actually more unhappy.  Nothing beats spending time with real people in real time at a real place.

I guess that's when I have a bit of hankering for the "old days."  My sister had dinner with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren a couple of weeks ago.  The grandchildren were either working on a tablet or checking the phone throughout.  While their mother was always a stickler for manners and good behavior, she didn't seem bothered by it whatsoever. 

Today's posting is part of what's been on my mind, but there was this great idea that flitted into my head the other night and it was SO GOOD that I wanted to beat a path to the basement and write it on the spot.  But I didn't, thinking that it would be so easy to remember.  And now I can't. I've tried.

The gist of it was that there was this project that was done, but it just wasn't perfect in any sense.  Yet, it was a worthwhile little thing, whatever it was.  Some would want it to be perfect and if it couldn't be improved, scrapped.  But for some reason, I liked it imperfect as it was.  It made me think of us humans, with all of our oddities, and yes, even with our so-called communication devices going through life without a compass.  It made me think about how God sees us raw and unrefined and somehow He still loves us. 

It made me think that God loved us enough that He would allow his son to come and be among us, be one with us. 

Our world at times seems so complex and unexplainable, but on a very deep level, at the very core where the molten lava burns unceasingly, there is something that every human being needs -- love.  It's the universal song of our souls. 

On my mantle are three special things that are ALWAYS there when I decorate.  One is a project that one of the boys made in school.  The other two are cards made with seed pods and inside written in small boy printing are those wonderful words that no parent can ever hear often enough -- "I love you."

Bless you as you start your preparations for Christmas.  Keep the love alive.

A Little French Vanilla

Two of my grandchildren think that French Vanilla creamer is the best thing ever.  Yesterday, they were both off of school and I was watching them.  The conversation started right off with French Vanilla and it kept on going.

Ella and Drew like a small amount of coffee each morning.  And what do they like in their coffee?  Of course, French Vanilla.  Oh, sometimes it's cinnamon and once in a while caramel or some sort of combination, but the old, tried and true French Vanilla always returns.

Ella had some corn for lunch yesterday and she loves corn!  However, for some reason it just didn't meet the taste bud specifications and she told me she wanted French Vanilla in it.  Oh, you've got to be kidding, I thought, but went along with the request.  True to her word she ate every single kernel of corn with gusto.  Who am I to be the taste police? 

We watched a movie -- Beauty and the Beast.  I hadn't seen it in years and it is really very good, especially the music.  Can't you just hear "Be Our Guest," right now?  Very catchy little tune.  Drew watched it too, although he also spent some time watching another movie or two.  Their mom said that they were actually very bored from having six days off of school, and I could see some of that. 

So while I'm no gourmet, it would seem that French Vanilla adds to the palate and the taste of many fine foods. 

I'm switching subjects here, but it will all come together at the end.  We watched a show the other night about people who venture to a desserted area of the Bahamas where there are few hotels and no golf courses.  They go there to deep sea dive -- the kind of diving where they go on one breath as far as they can and come back up.  They swallow air before the dive and somehow the body is able to use that swallowed air.  At the very end, the diver has to go through a series of actions that shows they are still coherent.  If they can't, the dive isn't credited.  One lady was there to dive.  She said she does it to "find out what I'm made of."  Wow. 

That's a little sad.  One of the LAST places I would go to find out what I'm made of is the Bahamas to deep sea dive on one breath.  I can find out about myself with a couple of kids and some French Vanilla, doing the things that grandmas have done for generations.  I don't need the adrenalin highs that come from almost killing myself!! 

Our God who made us is the one who helps us know about ourselves, and we have only to ask and he will give us insights.  Insights about our patience or lack of it, insights about our attitudes, insights about our shortcomings, and insights about His glory and the heaven that awaits us.  The answers we seek about this life and its meaning are close by.  So let us pray.  "Prepare Ye the way of the Lord."

Advent Thoughts

When I was a little kid, my aunt always used to buy us one of those neat Advent calendars that has the windows that open.  For each day of Advent, we'd get to flip the window and see what the surprise was inside.  It might be a candy cane, or it might be something with more religious significance. 

The biggest window was for Christmas Day and that window held a picture of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  The reason for the season.  The most important birth in the history of mankind.  The long awaited Messiah that the Jewish people had heard about through the prophets.

Keeping Christ in Christmas is getting more difficult.  The title of this blog is, "Life in a Small Town."  In Canal Fulton at the heart of the downtown is an old bank building that was built at the turn of the century.  Right in front the Lions Club puts the manger scene for all to see and enjoy.  It's there now, although Joseph wasn't lighting up at first and he needed some repair.  Thank God for the freedom to have the manger scene. 

In my grandson's school, they recently had a "Harvest Meal" for all of the kindergarteners.  His contribution was some corn chips.  They couldn't call it Thanksgiving.  No kidding.  There isn't any mention of Halloween either.  It's all gone, so that no one can complain.  Presumably, that means that there is no mention of Christmas either.  It's the new PC (politically correct) and it's not a good thing.  Thanksgiving was started by one of the very presidents that the children learn about and celebrate on Presidents' Day -- Abraham Lincoln.  At least he was the one who made it formal.  And now, we're afraid to offend someone if we mention Thanksgiving.  Even if I wasn't a Christian, I'd be thankful for SOMETHING, wouldn't I?  It almost makes my head spin.

The giving tree is now displayed in SS Philip & James, holding more tags than I've ever seen before.  Parishioners take a tag, sign the log, and then return the present and tag by December 11th.  In this way we can help many local families who are struggling this year.  After the tree is put away, the creche scene is displayed in that same area of the church. 

Since I started this blog last January, I'm pretty sure we've never talked about the magi and how we used to work them into our Christmas when the boys were little.  There was the long hall going to the bedrooms.  The magi started their journey to Bethlehem at the end of that hall and each day the boys would move them a bit closer to their destination.  They would get to the hutch right around Christmas Eve, and then I'd bring out the baby Jesus that was hidden until then.  And the baby was in his rightful place in his lowly manger.

It's a great way for children to stay in the spirit of the holiday, and not to get all caught up in the trappings of Christmas to the exclusion of our Lord, Jesus.

I'm down the basement writing this posting again, and thank God that it works down here!!  For this I am grateful, and for so many, many other wonders including my precious grandchildren.  Take care, my friends.