A Season of Shame

As she came riding into town that day, did she think everyone was looking? Did she travel with people that only looked out the corners of their eyes at her? Did she wear some extra clothes and try to smile extra to ease their uneasiness? Today I spoke with a great friend who helps people to see themselves better this time of year, he called it a season of shame. As I wait for the day that we celebrate the messiah's birth, I have started to look into the eyes around me just to see if I can see a little deeper than normal. It seems more often than I care to believe, the eyes contradict the smile on their face. I believe that the journey I'm on and the one I wait for should make me an open receptor for the shame of others and a welcoming hand in a world of isolation. Father, help me to feel what they feel! "Wisdom is shown to be right by it's results"---the one known as a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of sinners---the one for whom we wait

String of Lights

As I contemplate the position of peace in life and the coming Messiah, I wonder if it is more like those darned old school christmas lights than i want to admit. It seems that I can piece together a few moments or maybe even hours of thinking on whatever is pure then I run into a bad one----the whole thing just goes out. Then I go back and reconsider whatever is lovely and has virtue and the thing twinkles again. Father, help me to make longer strings of seeing your face in the midst of my journey and the strugles of others!! Soooo, am I a mad depresive or has this been your experience??

More complex times

The Yanomami Shabono

So Anita and I were talking about simpler times compared to now. Somehow hunting, fishing, gardening, and building the communal house (pictured) once every 5 years unless there's a bad storm or fire seems to be the deal. Then when it comes down to deciding what not to spend money on, all seems necessary. In this time of waiting in anticipation of messiah come as man, how do we hold firmly to the hope in front of us?? Different people find themselves focused through various disciplines. I like to sit in front of the computer investigating the thoughts of God in the morning (somehow coffee helps:D ) and reading other peoples thoughts on the subject helps. One guy was into setting his watch to alarm every hour to remind him to stop for a minute-I think this would send me for a loop. What do you do to "hold firmly" to the things that are important for you to be considering??