Author: lakewooducc

This evening we read The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever out loud. It has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories though I have not read it for years. As usual, it did not disappoint. It was still laugh out loud funny in places. The Herdmans, the family with the bad kids who steal, and hit, and smoke, and set fires, were as bad as ever. The church people were just like church people can be. And in the course of things, you see that the Christmas story has meaning for the “good” people and for the “bad” people. It changes and transforms all people.

In the Christmas story with the shepherds, angels, special pregnancy, no room at the inn, the barn and the animals, and then the version with the wise men and Herod, there are many points of access for all different kinds of people.

That is Jesus. He has a message for “bad” people, and for “good” people. His teachings and his life touch us one and all; even people who are not Christian or church oriented. With Jesus, there is something for everyone and no one is left out. So, it is not surprising that Christmas has become the most celebrated holiday in the world.

But I am wondering where Santa, the reindeer, the elves, and the stockings, hung by the chimney with care, fit in. The holiday of shopping, shopping, shopping and buying, buying, buying just doesn’t seem to go with the poor baby born in the barn and placed in the feeding trough to sleep. The Santa holiday leaves people spent and often in debt. The Christmas stories in the Bible invite us to think in new ways and to have hope in the future. You don’t need any money to receive the gifts offered by the stories of Christmas and the teachings of Jesus. It is all freely given. May we be grateful recipients.

For reflection: When you think of Jesus, do you think of him as poor? How does that impact your image of Jesus?

Prayer: We give thanks for the stories of scripture and the way they invite us to see life differently. Jesus is portrayed as a very real person engaging the pressing issues of his day. May our faith give us hope and direction for the conditions of our day. May we see how the Gospel speaks good news of great joy for all people. Amen.

In loving memory of

Cassandra Barnes, Anthony Belcher, Charles Berrier, Joe Boatman, Steven Bowen, Timothy Bryan, Ruby Butler, Steven Buszinski, Bruce Christy David Cooney, Henrietta Dickson, Johnny Hicks, Patricia Hill, Randy Howell, Raymond Johnson, Lloyd Jordan, Steven Kirby, Daniel Krufka, Glenn Livingston, Zachary Loughlin, Alan Mason, Edward Pederson, Elma Probeck Reames, Lawrence Rowe, Kyle Schlittenhart, Dennis Showard, Michael Sproul, Matthew Stewart, Ronald Sullivan, William Thornburg, Theresa Turbak, Bradley Tutwiler, Mary Jane Veerman, Fred Waters, Walter Weaver, Jr.

These are the names of the homeless people who have died in our area in the past year. They were remembered at an Interfaith Memorial Service for the Pinellas County Community Sunday Dec. 21 at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown St. Petersburg. There were several additional names added of people who had died just that weekend.

The Memorial Service in St. Pete was part of a national memorial held each year on Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year. Or, as we were reminded at the service, the longest night of the year.

To me, the solstice is the shortest day of the year. The limited daylight makes me feel like I have to get everything I want to get done in a shorter time because once it gets dark, I think of being done for the day. To me, darkness is a time to leave work behind, read, wind down, go to sleep in the comfort of my warm bed with a dog at the foot of the bed keeping my feet warm. It’s a time to sink into those luscious hours of dreaming.

But as I learned at the Memorial Service, for homeless people December 21 is the longest night of the year. This means more hours of cold to endure outside. It means less time to see what you are doing without the aid of artificial light. It means more time vulnerable and exposed as a potential victim of violence. More darkness means more fear and more discomfort for those who are homeless.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we remember that he teaches us to see in a new way. Jesus teaches us to see things from the perspective of those who are vulnerable, weak, and outcast. He teaches us to see through a lens of justice and compassion, rather than self interest and privilege. When we see the world through the eyes of Jesus, we see the stark honesty of love, beauty, terror, and pain.

For reflection: Think of one example of how have you come to see life differently because of Jesus.

Prayer: In the Christmas story, we are told that there was no room at the inn so Jesus was born in a barn. May we have eyes to see those who are not welcome. May we see those who feel outcast. May we be sensitive to those who feel they do not belong. With our eyes open, we can help to create a world that is a safe home for all. Amen.

This is the time for the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. The day with the fewest hours of sunlight. At least it is so for those on our part of the earth. These shortened days make me want to go to bed early. As soon as it starts to get dark, I am ready to pack it in for the day. Productivity can be severely reduced. Longer sleep can mean more dreams which may be good or disturbing.

The light is shortened, but it is not gone. Somewhere the light is shining. Even if only briefly. That is what Christmas says to us again and again each year. The light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.

We experience darkness in so many ways. Maybe the health issues of age make life dark. Maybe the responsibilities of caregiving hover like a cloud. Maybe economic uncertainty casts its gloom. Maybe guilt or regret cause a dimming. The condition of the world and what feels like ever escalating violence feels like darkening gloom. The crisis of global climate change can feel very dark. Grief and betrayal may darken our days. Addiction can feel dark. The future may look bleak. There are many ways that our days may seem darkened.

Christmas, with lights on the tree, lights on the house, lights in the yard, lights in the windows, and candles aflame, bears witness that the darkness cannot overcome the light. The light still shines. Maybe seemingly far off. Maybe dimly. But it shines.

Jesus reminds us once again to look for the light. Acknowledge the darkness, but seek the light – from within yourself, from others, from God. No matter how dark it is, the light is still there.

For reflection: When have you felt enveloped by darkness? What darkens your days?

Prayer: Jesus is the light of the world. No matter where we are, geographically, spiritually, emotionally, Jesus is light. That light is shining, somewhere, somehow. We pray for the will to look for the light and to let the light of goodness, peace, and love illumine our lives and the world. Amen.

I am listening to a murder mystery. As the end approaches everything is coming to light. It turns out that one person with evil intentions entraps someone else who then proceeds to commit many murders because of what happened with the initial action. The one who gets the ball rolling, so to speak, doesn’t intend for the thing to snowball as it does. He, himself, is stunned by all that comes to pass because of what he started.

Listening to this novel reminds me that we don’t always know the consequences of our actions. We may do something small that then influences someone else, and someone else, and more and more comes of it. And we may never know of this result since our lives are not best-selling murder mysteries! In the book, the initial act leads to many murders. But the same thing can happen when thinking about making positive changes in the world. One person may do something good to help another, and then it mushrooms or snowballs. Many movements for social change, for justice, for charity, have begun in this way. Someone did something small.

In a way, the Christmas story is just such a story. While we cannot historically verify much about Jesus’ birth, we do know that he was born in a rural area, not a prominent capital or county seat. We do know that he was born to a family of modest means; poor, actually. We do know that Jesus was part of a minority on the fringe of a large Empire, living in an occupied territory. It’s a small beginning. An initial gesture. No one would expect such a beginning to snowball into a mass movement spawning the largest religion on earth. No one would expect such a humble start to lead to the earth shaking impact that followed and continues to surge ahead today.

This Christmas, we may not get the big gift we are hoping for. We may not be able to afford to go to be with the people who are important to us. We may not end up having the celebration we wanted. We may not see the sweeping tide of peace in the world that we long for. But let us trust that the good we can do, the small acts of compassion, the gestures of justice, the giving of an unexpected gift, the curbing of our carbon footprint, any small thing that is of God, may have vast and sweeping consequences that we never fully appreciate. May that spur us to do the good, to make the effort, for we never know what may come of it. And, if nothing else, it will affect us. It will make us better people, less likely to let evil slip in unsuspected and overwhelm us. Keeping busy with the good leaves less room for the bad to enter.

For reflection: Can you think of something relatively small that has had a big impact? A decision? An invention? A course of action? Think about how to multiply the impact of the good in the world.

Prayer: We tend to associate humble beginnings with ineffectiveness and powerlessness. In fact, in our society, in many ways, “the masses” feel powerless. May the stories of Jesus’ nativity remind us anew of the difference that everyday, common people can make when we are part of fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the Love at the heart of the universe. May we learn from Jesus how to trust God and trust ourselves. Amen.

Peace on Earth. Good will to all. This is the heart of the Christmas message. But sometimes we feel like peace is not even a glimmer on the far distant horizon. Wars and armed conflicts spread and grow. You can get a lighter for a candle that is made to look like a gun. Then there is the attraction, Machine Gun America, opening tomorrow in Orlando, just in time for Christmas. Here’s the pitch from MGA:

Machine Gun America is Orlando’s first machine gun attraction, sure to hit the bullseye for any thrill-seeker. Whether you’re new on the range or a sharp shooter ready for your next target, you’ll get the rush of power and excitement that can only come from firing real machine guns and powerful firearms with live ammo. Choose from our action-packed packages or take on a custom adventure with your favorite hardware. Scope out the thrill of a lifetime in the safety of our state-of-the-art facility. [Visit machinegunamreica.com to see all the details proving how demented our society has become!]

In spite of all of the violence and war that surrounds us, today, a message of peace dazzles the world. The US is establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. It seems so natural. And yet, I didn’t expect to see it in my lifetime.

I listened to a biography/autobiography of Fidel Castro. It was interesting to learn about his life and his development as a leader and his dreams for his country. I heard about his impressions of the US. I did not agree with everything he said, but I certainly could not see why the US is not relating to Cuba as we do to other countries, say in Central and South America.

And today, we learned that there has been a major shift in US-Cuba relations. This is good news. This is more than a glimmer toward peace on earth. The line from the Christmas hymn comes to mind, “God surprises earth and heaven coming here on Christmas day.”

When we receive Jesus as a gift in our lives, we open ourselves up to unexpected surprises. We never know where we will be led or how the spirit will move. To follow Jesus is to be open to the unexpected. A change of plans. A new direction.

When we receive Jesus as a gift in our lives, we also embrace hope. We never give up on anyone. We accept that everyone can change. Everyone can be redeemed. Transformation is a possibility for everyone.

Peace is possible.

For reflection: When have you been taken in a new direction by the teachings of Jesus? When have you been surprised by the Spirit?

Prayer: So often the surprises of life are not welcome. Yet Christmas invites us to be open to being blessed by the unexpected. Good things can still happen. Change is possible. In fact, it is inevitable. May we be agents of change based on the gospel of Jesus Christ so that there may be at least a little more peace on earth and good will to all. Amen.