The Bad Christmas Trip

First I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad from the bottom of my heart.

But some of us ought to go ahead and acknowledge that we start tripping this time of year. Christmas is a time for giving but it is also a time for receiving. When we expect to get as much as we give or want to give, that's when the trouble begins. Our expectations rise to the occasion and our self pity kicks in because we know that we won't get what we want; even if we don't even know what we want.

So what's the solution? For me its important to take myself out of the equation by focusing on who is really important. First of all its God then others. If I am being grateful to God for his gifts of love, grace and mercy then this will surely stop the madness of the season. The rest of the year will be better too.

Beginnings

This is what I would have said to her had I met my wife while we were still in high school instead of when we met seven years after high school. During high school I was a musician and I loved playing jazz and rock on my instrument the slide trombone.  The words to the Chicago band's song Beginnings, express just how I would have felt had we met while in high school. I sure hope she would have liked it had I played Beginnings on my horn and sang it to her. But Its hard to know just what her reaction would have been had I done so. I'm guessing that her feelings would've been hard for her to put into words. Maybe she would have been...silent... silent, but I hope in a good way. 

The song Beginnings (you can hear by clicking here!)

Song lyrics excerpts are below. 
Songwriter: Robert Lamm

When I'm with you, it doesn't matter where we are, or what we're doing
I'm with you, that's all that matters.
Time passes much too quickly, when we're together laughing I wish I could sing it to you, oh no, I wish I could sing it to you.

Oh whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.
Oh whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.
Mostly I'm silent, mm-hm-hm-hm... Silent, la la la la la.

Never think of the right words to say.

When I kiss you, I feel a thousand different feelings
The color of chills all over my body, yeah, yeah, yeah!

And when I feel them, I quickly try to decide which one?
I should try to put into words, oh no, try to put into words.

Mostly I'm silent... Silent... La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la... Silent.

Dirt

It is really early in the morning.  There is a big pile of dirt in my driveway about 41 cubic yards along with 30 pieces of grass sod stacked behind it.  A dump truck dropped these off last Wednesday but there is no religious significance to their presence. My plan was to get my yardman to spread the dirt at the top part of my front lawn (nearest to the house) where the earth is barren that is, without a grass covering.  The earth in this area was eroded by rain due to a lack of grass and large tree roots that are clearly visible above the ground from my two large oak trees.  I want to cover those roots over with my new soil and then plant the new grass sod so that I can have a nice green front lawn. After all the Lord wants me to “lie down in green pastures” not barren ones am I right?  I swear on a stack of bibles that I don’t really talk like this!   This yardman, who usually cuts my grass showed up Thursday, took one look at that pile of dirt and ran saying he’d return on Friday.  Well it’s Saturday and he hasn't returned yet.  I guess he doesn't have the kind of faith that could “move mountains,” but I do.  So I’m just going to have to do the job myself and keep my appointment with a shovel and a sore back.  Please pray for me.