It is not quite New Years yet, but today did, nonetheless, seem like a good day for a little bit of reflection. Tom and I slept in after attending an 11PM candlelight service at a PCUSA(*) church (the one with the really nice seats). I have been thinking that since I have decided that God and Jesus do exist, that it was time for me to change my approach to Christmas, and move away from my Christmases past to my Christmas present (no pun intended) and toward my Christmases of the future.
In the past, Christmas never had anything to do with a child born in a manger far away over 2000 years ago. Well, I did go through all the motions: sang the songs, decorated the tree, etc... but Christmas to me was just (just should not be taken lightly as Christmas did mean a lot) a wonderful opportunity for the family to stop and get together and enjoy each others' company without the usual hustle and bustle of the world. Christmas always brought with it a certain undescribeable feeling, a feeling of not only anxiously awaiting the chance to open the gifts under the tree, but also of the scents, sounds, and sights. Christmas was special even if Christ was missing in the equation and I was only a Christian by name (I was after all Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church).
As previously mentioned, I was then thinking about how I would need to change my approach to Christmas from my Christmases past to my Christmas present. OK, there may actually be a little bit of a pun here.... This year, even though I tried to add Christ back in the equation, I still found myself anxiously awaiting the chance to open the gifts under the tree. Every day I waited by the door for the postman to deliver my gifts from back home; they have not arrived yet. My theory on the Christmas boxes is that he is holding them hostage because we have not given him a Christmas present. The reason why I decided to look into Christianity was, that dealing with a crippling disease without some kind of faith, is really not an option. The pastor last night really did a good job describing it in his sermon. He described it as there is a little something undescribable missing in your life; he hit the nail on the head by quoting one of my favorite authors, scholars, thinkers, namely Jack (C.S. Lewis). He quoted a small passage from the book Surprised by Joy "The experience of Joy is that of an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction" (Surprised by Joy p 17). For a moment while in church last night I had that feeling. The feeling that it was OK that my Christmas presents from Denmark had not shown up, it was OK that all I could afford to buy for Tom this year was a Belgian Waffle maker on clearance from Kohl's, it was really all OK for just a moment. For a little while there was peace, no MD, no bills, no cold weather, no leaking toilets... nothing, just peace.
I hope that over the next year(s) I will be able to investigate and develop this little something undescribable missing in my life. I hope that I will be able to celebrate my future Christmases with more peace, and less fear and worry, with the trust and faith in a God I am just now getting to know.
Merry Christmas and God Bless us Everyone.
Contact email keepinghopejourney@gmail.com
*One of two branches of the Presbyterian church we have attended
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Alternative Christmas Presents
As I sit on my couch with a full belly, in my warm robe, under a blanket in my slightly messy living room, I realize how lucky I really am. I am not hungry, I have a nice and warm robe, a great quilt made with love by grandma Elsie, and enough stuff to make my living room slightly messy! I have a loving husband and the cutest pets in the world. I want all of you to take a break, look around, and take in your surroundings, just for a moment before you continue reading......
Last night I volunteered at an Alternative Christmas Market, I had no idea what it was, I just knew that fdoa (Florida Disabled Outdoors Association) was going to have a table there, and I like to help out whenever I can.
The alternative Christmas market I was helping out at was held at Christ Presbyterian Church here in Tallahassee. It was a fund raising event,where several worthy organizations had a chance to introduce themselves to the community, and hopefully encourage people to consider buying alternative Christmas presents this year. Some booths sold items, but all had lists of different levels of donations you could make in someone's name. When I look around my living room I see that I don't really have a lot of room for new things, I mean, if you own enough things to make a room messy, you own enough right?. The only two places I still have room is in my heart and in my closet (I have lots of empty hangers I am human after all)We don't have a lot of money, so if we are able to make a donation it will be small, but I am, going to ask Tom to in place of buying me yet another thing (clothes, especially boots excluded), make a donating to one of the many charities we saw last night. I am sure most of you have similar events in your area, if not, visit http://www.cpcusa.org/altmarket.htm I promise that you will find something worthwhile in there. Many of the organizations, in addition to asking for monetary donations, also need volunteers to help out, used clothing etc. Why not spend a little time next year volunteering somewhere as a Christmas present to ourselves? It doesn't cost anything, but it will help fill up our hearts, no organization is more or less worthy than the other.
P
Contact email keepinghopejourney@gmail.com
Last night I volunteered at an Alternative Christmas Market, I had no idea what it was, I just knew that fdoa (Florida Disabled Outdoors Association) was going to have a table there, and I like to help out whenever I can.
The alternative Christmas market I was helping out at was held at Christ Presbyterian Church here in Tallahassee. It was a fund raising event,where several worthy organizations had a chance to introduce themselves to the community, and hopefully encourage people to consider buying alternative Christmas presents this year. Some booths sold items, but all had lists of different levels of donations you could make in someone's name. When I look around my living room I see that I don't really have a lot of room for new things, I mean, if you own enough things to make a room messy, you own enough right?. The only two places I still have room is in my heart and in my closet (I have lots of empty hangers I am human after all)We don't have a lot of money, so if we are able to make a donation it will be small, but I am, going to ask Tom to in place of buying me yet another thing (clothes, especially boots excluded), make a donating to one of the many charities we saw last night. I am sure most of you have similar events in your area, if not, visit http://www.cpcusa.org/altmarket.htm I promise that you will find something worthwhile in there. Many of the organizations, in addition to asking for monetary donations, also need volunteers to help out, used clothing etc. Why not spend a little time next year volunteering somewhere as a Christmas present to ourselves? It doesn't cost anything, but it will help fill up our hearts, no organization is more or less worthy than the other.
P
Contact email keepinghopejourney@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Heaven
It has been a long time since I last wrote here, actually the longest since I started my blog, the only reason is simply that I have been very busy. Busy is good, but being the moseying kind, a little peace and quiet is always to be desired. For those of you who are not familiar with my blog, moseying is what I do when I just need alone time. I usually spend the time cooking, and Yesterday was no exception, we have enough Danish comfort food to feed a small army. My batteries are recharged, at least a little.
Yesterday I was very saddened to hear that Elizabeth Edwards, a strong, inspiring, graceful, and admirable woman, has halted her treatments for cancer. Her life is now measured in weeks not months. Sometimes you just wonder why the good ones have to travel the roughest roads, and the only reason can be that something better will be there for her. I am currently reading a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn, it is taking me a long time to get through it as some of the stuff in there is way beyond my intellectual capabilities, but I try none the less. However, last night while reading, I did see just a little ray of hope. I don't know if Elizabeth Edwards believes in Jesus, but I have a feeling she does, and Alcorn pretty much said that the harder your life on Earth, the bigger your reward in Heaven. I am sure Elizabeth will be very rich, and I can only hope to be good enough to meet her and draw on her wisdom!
Reading the book, Heaven, in addition to being a challenge to my little brain, can at times be somewhat emotional. Mr Alcorn conducted a lot of research before writing it, and he is not sparing any punches! I am still new to Christianity and I don't even know if I can even call myself a Christian. Some say that I could or should, so I might. One of my arguments for not being a Christian in the past was that why would I want to go to Heaven when all the interesting and fun people will be in hell?, besides I don't like the cold! I was OK with taking the chance that God was real! I was OK with taking the chance that if I was wrong I would be going to Hell. I am not so sure anymore, I am pretty convinced that God is real, if I believe that God is real, then there is one of Alcorn's statements that I have a hard time coming to terms with. The statement is that if I become a Christian, I will never again see the people I love, who went ahead of me, and who obviously won't be in Heaven. He says that even good people will go to Hell if they don't accept Jesus, I will need to ponder that one. Maybe I should mosey over in the kitchen and see if there is anything to cook :-)
Please pray for the Edwards family I am not yet qualified to do so, but I know that a lot of you are.
P
Contact email keepinghopejourney@gmail.com
Yesterday I was very saddened to hear that Elizabeth Edwards, a strong, inspiring, graceful, and admirable woman, has halted her treatments for cancer. Her life is now measured in weeks not months. Sometimes you just wonder why the good ones have to travel the roughest roads, and the only reason can be that something better will be there for her. I am currently reading a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn, it is taking me a long time to get through it as some of the stuff in there is way beyond my intellectual capabilities, but I try none the less. However, last night while reading, I did see just a little ray of hope. I don't know if Elizabeth Edwards believes in Jesus, but I have a feeling she does, and Alcorn pretty much said that the harder your life on Earth, the bigger your reward in Heaven. I am sure Elizabeth will be very rich, and I can only hope to be good enough to meet her and draw on her wisdom!
Reading the book, Heaven, in addition to being a challenge to my little brain, can at times be somewhat emotional. Mr Alcorn conducted a lot of research before writing it, and he is not sparing any punches! I am still new to Christianity and I don't even know if I can even call myself a Christian. Some say that I could or should, so I might. One of my arguments for not being a Christian in the past was that why would I want to go to Heaven when all the interesting and fun people will be in hell?, besides I don't like the cold! I was OK with taking the chance that God was real! I was OK with taking the chance that if I was wrong I would be going to Hell. I am not so sure anymore, I am pretty convinced that God is real, if I believe that God is real, then there is one of Alcorn's statements that I have a hard time coming to terms with. The statement is that if I become a Christian, I will never again see the people I love, who went ahead of me, and who obviously won't be in Heaven. He says that even good people will go to Hell if they don't accept Jesus, I will need to ponder that one. Maybe I should mosey over in the kitchen and see if there is anything to cook :-)
Please pray for the Edwards family I am not yet qualified to do so, but I know that a lot of you are.
P
Contact email keepinghopejourney@gmail.com
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