THE TREE

We were rushing around from store to store in between the raindrops that where falling sporadically.
There is an ancient story about a little Christmas tree in the forest who was dwart by all the other giant trees and rude jokes were made of it because of its size.  One night the big trees saw a wonderful sight of the sky being lit up with a glorious light and the stars appeared to be dancing among the clouds and angels came and sang the most heavenly music.

The little tree sighed and wished that he could see.  When suddenly the angels came into their very forest.  The music surrounded the little tree and it felt loved and beautiful and filled with divine peace.  The dancing stars came and rested upon his branches and all the other trees bowed to see what was happening.  All the angels left except one and the light from its presence shone upon the tree.

This little tree grew strong and tall guarded by the angel so that no strong wind could threaten to break it's branches.  Over the years there wwould come a man alone who climb this hill and sat among the branches of the tree.  He too felt his sadness and despair leave and strength return to his soul.  He would hear in this quiet place the voice of His Heavenly Father saying again "You are my beloved son.  I am proud of you!"

One night the man came with a group of his friends who lay and slept under the other trees while he wept in anguish great tears of grief and words of desperate prayers.  He left and the angel left too.  The next morning men came and chopped down the tree and stripped it of it's branches.  The tree felt life being taken from it.

The tree became the cross upon which the man who had saved others now died in agony.

This time of year can be very sad for many people, especially if they feel alone and some how unwelcome as they watch others celebrate.  But even these who appear to be happy are just putting on an act.  They cover themselves with beautiful clothes and wine and dine but inside there can be an emptiness.

I feel a great sadness as I pray for young children with cancer and a 16 year old paralzyed by a stroke and a widow who has lost her husband. Listening to the news I hear of people being shout or run over or dying alone and I wish the world could be a happy place for us all.

The gift of Christmas is the love of heaven coming to descend upon each one of us especially those who are the most wounded and sad. 

SILENTLY

It is beginning to look like Christmas as more and more lights appear on our street.  Christmas cards are arriving in the mail and I wonder if there will be a time when we do not use the mail at all.  I like my mailman a lot, he is a good guy.

I spent the afternoon looking for a cheque that had come in the mail which was not in the place where I was sure I had put it.  Very distressing.  Rosanna my neighbor asked me over so that took my mind off it for awhile.  I found it just as I was getting ready for bed.  I feel like the day was wasted going through papers and drawers etc.

Today I will be shopping for groceries after the cheque gets deposited.

"Believe that miracles happen and that they can change your life.
Believe that you have an angel by your side to help you through
and believe anything is possible at Christmas."  Jennifer Lewis-Hall

Christmas means so many different things to people.  For many it is the partying and lavish decorating and for me it is family and church and giving to those less fortunate. 

IMAGINE

Imagine a beautiful pink sunrise hidden by the fog.

Imagine a world of peace and compassion where there are no misunderstandings.

Imagine that today we will be touched with inspiration and reverence for all life.

Imagine a world of angels and miracles, where  the music of heaven could be heard on earth.

Imagine a world of new possibilities!

Imagine the God of the mountain becomes the God of the heart.

ALL IS CALM

                                                          The Word Became Flesh.

Yes, this is my very old Bible that has been well used.

It is good to have a day that is quiet and calm.  I woke up this morning feeling a sense of deep inner peace.  I have been reading about the angel that came to Mary to tell her she had been chosen.  I would like to think that an angel had visited me in the night and the words would have been the same for me. 

Luke 1:28   The angel went to her, and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored.
 The Lord is with you.  Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God."

Some people have experienced angels as real people who have appeared quickly to give them aid and then disappeared just as quickly.  Spiritually I have moments when I feel an awe and wonder at the unconditional love that is Divine love.  It is important that I take time to kneel at the feet of Jesus and put aside all the demands of daily life.

To worship is to enter a new space, a place of calm and reassurance the heart of the soul.

"Tradition teaches that the Soul lies midway between understanding and unconsciousness, and that its instrument is neither the mind nor the body, but the imagination."   -Thomas Moore "Care of the Soul"

Imagination like dreams are so important in spirituality

CHRISTMAS CRANKY

I think real people have days when they just feel cranky I certainly do.  It is never just one thing but one thing after another.  It all started with my cake disaster and then  was it misjudging a speeding car, loosing my wallet with the money I had just taken out of the bank and all my I.D. and credit cards, was it the phone call that was never made to say "I'm okay" or was it that the house just seems to be getting messier and messier.

My legs felt weak as I asked at the counter if my wallet had been turned in and I was so thankful it had all i could say was thank you! thank you!

Other people seem to look forward to craft fairs and special dinners mixed with birthday celebrations but not me.  I am feeling just plain tired.  I know that I am not alone and I am not feeling sorry for myself but just wondering "What is wrong with me?" 

Conformity can be such a drag.  Wild and crazy seems like more fun! ! !

I know it will be fun helping at the church Christmas craft fair and the place will look all beautiful.  To-morrow dad can peel all the potatoes for the scalloped potatoes I am taking for Pot Luck get together.  I have not read chapter 2 called God so I'll just listen to the discussion.

It is amazing to see Matthew and Jasmine looking at their little books we sent them for Christmas.  I wish I could have been there.  I love seeing pictures of them!

I am trying to make healthy meals and dad is a great help after I mess up the kitchen I let him know he can clean up now!  A few Christmas lights and red candles brighten up our home.  Now that I written all this I am feeling in a very good mood. 

The best gift that we can give is our time.  There is a lot of love in the air even when people are rushing about.

HEALING OIL

Healing oil was a very ancient way of healing and restoring the skin to softness, wounds for healing as well as used in cooking like we do today.  Anointing with oil expressed caring and also kings and prophets would be anointed by oil to carry on their sacred roles as leaders of the community.  The Talmud even allowed the treatment of pain with oil on the Sabbath.

At the beginning of the ministry of Jesus he spoke in the synagogue saying; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor."  His love would be expressed in touching and healing the sick, the frightened, the forsaken outcasts with healing words that flowed from him to be poured out like oil over the ones in pain.

  Jesus spoke with authority that came from a heavenly Father even though he had no publicly recognized father and could have been even denied entry into the local congregation.

Even today religion tries to impose rules and restrictions that slow down the ministry of restoration and renewal.  Religion needs salvation that only saving grace can provide.
 
This time of year there often seems to be sickness and taking our friend Shirley to the hospital felt sad but also a sense of relief as we knew she needed to be under a doctor's care.  We are now waiting for news from the family.

It takes more than Christmas decorations to lift our spirits this time of year; so busy and stressful for many.
      We need the loving presence of others to visit and bless our homes.
            We need to remember those for whom this is a sad time of year.

Jesus would have his feet, filthy and dirty, annointed by a woman anointed with tears and with oil as she repented of her sins and received forgiveness.  Love expressed was returned to her.

"Her many sins have been released, because she loved much; but to whom little is released, loves little."  Luke 7:47  Forgiveness sets us free and releases acts of generosity and compassion!

NOW IS THE TIME

Christians all over the world are entering into a time called advent.  Nature has it's seasons when the leaves fall and the days grow darker.  People are walking faster to keep warm especially when the wind is pushing at their backs.  It is time to layer a few extra clothes as I get ready for my walk each day.

Time now to wander back into the past and let the story of a birth of a baby speak to our hearts once again.  We have read ancient quests about the idea of God, who he is and what he does.  We can easily argue with the ideas that disagree with our view of the world and the values that we build our lives upon.

Religion has been a process that even now is being formed and kept alive in the lighting of the candles and heavenly music and the reenactment of the story that whether we realize it or not change the perception of God.  God was not far off but he is apart of time.

Now is the time to take time for friends and family as well as time to awaken the inner soul to a beauty that outlives time and will outlive us.

Having tea with Shirley and coffee with Jane and Geof have made this week a happy time.

Sharing an evenning with our home group as we share experiences that have imprinted their lives and as they retell them it it is a gift that lifts our spirits.