Longing for a Silent Night
“I hate to feel this way about the holidays,” a friend recently said to me, “but I wish it was over.” I admit to struggling with this tension too. Sometimes, … Continue reading Longing for a Silent Night
Tag: Advent
The Weary World Rejoices
Quiet. For just a little while, it was quiet. My college students have been home for the Thanksgiving holiday, two of them bringing their large dogs with them. My home … Continue reading The Weary World Rejoices
Beautiful Imperfection
I used to be a Christmas tree tyrant. You know, that woman who wanted the ornaments and ribbon to be placed just so- everything well coordinated, no gaps, a picture … Continue reading Beautiful Imperfection
Day 25- The Significance Of “70”: The Boy Jesus In the Temple
Where’s Jesus? One baffled frown mirrored in the face of another. A skip of the heart. A tremor of terror. I thought he was with you. The caravans of pilgrims … Continue reading Day 25- The Significance Of “70”: The Boy Jesus In the Temple
Day 24- “Out of Egypt I Call My Son”: A Priestly Line in Egypt
In the sands six miles north of Cairo, Egypt Hebrew inscriptions can be found among the ruins of an ancient city. Jewish burial catacombs snake under the dunes. This is Tell … Continue reading Day 24- “Out of Egypt I Call My Son”: A Priestly Line in Egypt
Day 23-“Her Children Are No More”: The Slaughter of the Innocents
This, as every post in this series, was written ahead of time and scheduled to be posted on the appropriate day. I wrote this particular piece by the light of … Continue reading Day 23-“Her Children Are No More”: The Slaughter of the Innocents
Day 22- Two Dreams and a Midnight Flight
“Get up.” Moments earlier, there was the blackness of midnight, the stillness of village slumber. Then, sleep was riven by light and alarm. Joseph was no ordinary man. He was … Continue reading Day 22- Two Dreams and a Midnight Flight
Day 21- A Royal Welcome and Three Special Gifts
Herod held his paranoid, murderous impulses together long enough to craft a subtle plan. He would deceive the wise men from the east into finding the child and then revealing … Continue reading Day 21- A Royal Welcome and Three Special Gifts
Day 20- A Grand Entrance and a Perfect Storm: Flipping Herod’s Crazy Switch
A caravan of horses and camels rode through the streets of Jerusalem. Men dressed in rich Parthian robes were flanked by guards wielding spears, swords, and shields. They rode purposefully, … Continue reading Day 20- A Grand Entrance and a Perfect Storm: Flipping Herod’s Crazy Switch
Day 19- “A Star In The East”
Balaam was having a rough month complete with an angel of God, a talking donkey, and problems in his job. He had been hired by the King of Moab to … Continue reading Day 19- “A Star In The East”
Day 18- “We Three Kings”: Who Were The Wise Men From the East?
The sun beat down on them by day, and they slept under a canopy of stars by night. They had been travelling the International Highway for many weeks in a caravan … Continue reading Day 18- “We Three Kings”: Who Were The Wise Men From the East?
Day 17- Baby’s First Trip to the Temple
Crowds filled the streets as the young couple made their way toward the base of the temple complex. The woman had given birth forty days before and the time for her ritual purification … Continue reading Day 17- Baby’s First Trip to the Temple