2007. Go ahead and "stick a fork in her". December 31st!
Many things in 2007 to reflect back on, and I may yet do some of that. But right now that's too much to think about.
I'm sitting at the desk watching some dusty flakes fall from the sky. It's late afternoon and getting dark already. The rest of the family is napping and the house is quiet. The Christmas season has once again flown by in a blur of food, celebration, friends, family, giving and receiving...and some wonderful restful moments too.
God Bless us all who can spend the Season in warmth and love, and remember it fondly. And on that note, the following translation of "Auld Lang Syne" from it's original Celtic roots. Have you ever wonderered what it meant? Here's a translation, which you can see refers to a friendship between childhood friends who have been parted and met again. Literally it means that for the sake of our long friendship we should join hands and share a drink together in the spirit of good will. To extend that meaning it means that we should not forget our old friends and celebrate reunion with them. May it be so!
Should old acquaintances be forgotten, And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten, And days of long ago !
Chorus:
For old long ago, my dearFor old long ago,We will take a cup of kindness yet For old long ago.
We two have run about the hillsides And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot For old long ago.
We two have paddled (waded) in the stream From noon until dinner time, But seas between us broad have roared Since old long ago.
And there is a hand, my trusty friend, And give us a hand of yours, And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale) For old long ago!
And surely you will pay for your pint, And surely I will pay for mine! And we will take a cup of kindness yet For old long ago!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Guilty As Charged?
Last Sunday's sermon was one of those filled with Good News. Just another reason to enjoy the Church season of Advent.
But this one, spoken by our associate Rector, Fr. Bob, also included a special question that really grabbed me. He asked me this; If I was being tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence for a conviction?
Think about that!
There have been times and places where a trial like this was not uncommon. A conviction could mean death. Today, thankfully, maybe only in a few troubled spots in this world. And of course, I'm framing it here as if it were to be a persucution. But no.... not here. Not in this place. Not yet anyway.
No, a conviction here and now, does not mean a death sentence. Not even in a worldly sense.
No, a conviction on these charges means the exact opposite. The sentence for this conviction is life.
But this one, spoken by our associate Rector, Fr. Bob, also included a special question that really grabbed me. He asked me this; If I was being tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence for a conviction?
Think about that!
There have been times and places where a trial like this was not uncommon. A conviction could mean death. Today, thankfully, maybe only in a few troubled spots in this world. And of course, I'm framing it here as if it were to be a persucution. But no.... not here. Not in this place. Not yet anyway.
No, a conviction here and now, does not mean a death sentence. Not even in a worldly sense.
No, a conviction on these charges means the exact opposite. The sentence for this conviction is life.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Snow Job
The first real winter weather of the year socked us yesterday. Fortunately it was a Sunday. Few of us had to venture anywhere, really, and yet many did. Deep snow and vicious wind.
Almost 24 hours elapsed before all kinds of institutions began the predictable process of closing due to weather. Schools, libraries, city offices, etc..
Maybe because it was a Sunday, the road crews were a bit slower to respond. Their numbers may have been less also. These are difficult days for Michigan cities and counties. Everyone is broke, and so Sunday overtime is not something that they would readily approve! Yet, by this morning all the roads were just about "normal" from what I could observe.
One week until Christmas. A "snow day" on Monday. How convenient! The Malls had to be absolutely chock-full of students, teachers, librarians and city clerks who couldn't possibly get to work!
I'm getting old. I remember the beloved snow days I had as a kid. And on those days, the weather was bad, and the roads really were next to impassible. No one could or would go anywhere. Today however, the stores were busy, the restaurants were bustling.... oh....and I was at work!
I am not a student, I am not a union member, and I don't work for the government. Just a poor working stiff struggling to get to work on a normal winter day in Michigan, and it wasn't bad at all; mostly because I didn't have to share the road with this bunch. They all slept in!
Almost 24 hours elapsed before all kinds of institutions began the predictable process of closing due to weather. Schools, libraries, city offices, etc..
Maybe because it was a Sunday, the road crews were a bit slower to respond. Their numbers may have been less also. These are difficult days for Michigan cities and counties. Everyone is broke, and so Sunday overtime is not something that they would readily approve! Yet, by this morning all the roads were just about "normal" from what I could observe.
One week until Christmas. A "snow day" on Monday. How convenient! The Malls had to be absolutely chock-full of students, teachers, librarians and city clerks who couldn't possibly get to work!
I'm getting old. I remember the beloved snow days I had as a kid. And on those days, the weather was bad, and the roads really were next to impassible. No one could or would go anywhere. Today however, the stores were busy, the restaurants were bustling.... oh....and I was at work!
I am not a student, I am not a union member, and I don't work for the government. Just a poor working stiff struggling to get to work on a normal winter day in Michigan, and it wasn't bad at all; mostly because I didn't have to share the road with this bunch. They all slept in!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Another Inconvenient Truth
Observing a recent 2008 Presidential debate for the Republicans, I was intrigued (and maybe just a bit perturbed) by one question asked by a “citizen” regarding the candidate’s belief in the Bible.
Watching these things, I typically put myself in the position of how I might answer some of the more unusual, unique or thoughtful questions.
Let me qualify this writing by saying that the question I refer to above was part of a typical main-stream media ambush with a clear agenda aimed at Conservatives, which seeks to trip them up over their own convictions. Dems would never be asked the same thing.
So the question was, “Do you (candidate) believe that every word in the Bible is true?”
I really started thinking about what my own answer would be to this question. I wanted to state it here for the record. Of course, I have the luxury of having the time to think about my answer; something they did not.
Here’s my answer: The Bible is Truth. It is a collection of stories, parables, opinions, observations and historical events. So only a portion of it is fact. Fictional events and characters are sprinkled throughout. And yet, taken as the whole, it is Truth.
A handbook for our temporal lives. A guidebook to eternal life. Truth as in certainty. Truth as in sincerity. Truth as in integrity. Not all words factual. The sum is all that matters.
Maybe the question should be posed to a Dem. They might use a response that they have frequently relied on in the past; “Well... define Truth.” In this rare exception, that response is entirely appropriate. The answer might be “inconvenient”.
Watching these things, I typically put myself in the position of how I might answer some of the more unusual, unique or thoughtful questions.
Let me qualify this writing by saying that the question I refer to above was part of a typical main-stream media ambush with a clear agenda aimed at Conservatives, which seeks to trip them up over their own convictions. Dems would never be asked the same thing.
So the question was, “Do you (candidate) believe that every word in the Bible is true?”
I really started thinking about what my own answer would be to this question. I wanted to state it here for the record. Of course, I have the luxury of having the time to think about my answer; something they did not.
Here’s my answer: The Bible is Truth. It is a collection of stories, parables, opinions, observations and historical events. So only a portion of it is fact. Fictional events and characters are sprinkled throughout. And yet, taken as the whole, it is Truth.
A handbook for our temporal lives. A guidebook to eternal life. Truth as in certainty. Truth as in sincerity. Truth as in integrity. Not all words factual. The sum is all that matters.
Maybe the question should be posed to a Dem. They might use a response that they have frequently relied on in the past; “Well... define Truth.” In this rare exception, that response is entirely appropriate. The answer might be “inconvenient”.
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