I was reading Jenn's blog about her encounter with Santa and it got me to thinking about one of my own encounters.
I'm not sure how old I was but we still lived in the house on Vilven Lane, so I was younger than being in the 5th grade. I can date this because we moved from that house the summer before I started junior high school in the fall of 1965.
I remember it being a typical Houston Christmas Eve. No snow, ice or rain, but there was a nip in the air. The day had been free of clouds and we were all anticipating an evening of going to church for the Christmas Eve service and then the arrival of Santa. Even though we did not have a fireplace, I never questioned how he got into the house and never was concerned about "a stranger" coming into the house in the middle of the night. Ours was a safe and cozy existance, provided for by our parents. We had no reason to be afraid of anything happening and completely trusted out parents to care for us. We knew they would not allow anything to happen to us or the house that would shatter that reality. The best evidence I had of the arrival of Santa was not the gifts under the tree or the stockings being "hung with care". It was the fact that the snack we had left out, egg nog and chocolate chip cookies, was gone. I was so glad to know that Santa and I shared the same love for the same snack.
Anyway...this one particular Christmas Eve, we were in the house doing our "house thing" (I honestly do not remeber what the "house thing" was other than we were in the house). Suddenly, there arose on the house "such a clatter". There was the sound of sleigh bells and thumping sounds of reindeer paws on the roof of the house, accompanied by a deep, rich "Ho, Ho, Ho!" My brother and I ran outside because we knew we were going to catch the Jolly Old Elf in the act and get to see him work his magic for ourselves. The sun was still up though low in the western sky (this should have been our first clue). We ran out the front door. Don't see him. Ran around the house to the back yard. No Santa. Ran back to the front yard. No evidence that we could see. We hollered at Mom and Dad, who were outside, but they didn't know what we were talking about. They checked around the house and looked on the roof but they didn't see anything. I remember trying to get my Dad to get the ladder and climb up on the roof for a closer inspection. There had to be skid marks from the sleigh or hoof prints from the reindeer. Since the house was a small house and there weren't any trees to hide the view, there wasn't really any reason for a closer look. The entire roof could be seen from the ground. It was just the exuberance of a young boy hoping and being caught up in the moment.
Not long after this incident, I met this guy who claimed he was Santa Claus. He asked me if I would like to meet Santa Claus. When I told him 'yes', he introduced himself to me as Santa and stuck out his hand to shake my hand. My first reaction was to return the shake and then it was . . . "Oh, yea, right!" But he insisted. Reality was beginning to settle in. I was jaw-dropping-and-hitting-the-floor crestfallen. I vivdly remember the ache and hurt in my chest. Disappointment does not begin to describe the feeling. Christmas was never going to be the same again. I just found it hard to believe that he was who he claimed to be. I just couldn't really believe he was/is Santa. However, as time has gone by, I've tired very hard to never really let on to him that I was in the "disbelieving zone". The fantasy had to continue in some fashion or form for both of us.
Well, the years have passed and not too many years ago a set of sleigh bells appeared over the front doorway of our house on Hazelhurst in Houston. They hung there for several years and each time someone would enter or exit through that doorway...ching! ching! ching! ching! ching! I am told these bells came from my great-grandparent's sleigh. They are obviously old and have this rich, full sound.
Kind of like that which comes from the roof of a house on Christmas Eve so many years ago, now brought forth in the memory of a middle aged man.
Those bells are now in my possession. They are in a non-descript box on the dining room table waiting their turn to widen the eyes of a young child sometime in the future. They are one of the few things that I really "wanted" from my parents house. As we recently drove home with the "bells in the box", each time we turned, changed lanes or hit a bump in the road, there was a soft "ching" from the back floorboard. Kind of makes you smile and the heart ache less.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Ebenezer Scrooge
That is how I feel.
I am not in the mood or spirit for this Christmas season. Don't know why. I told Amy I think it is because of all the changes going on at work and the events of the past few months at church. No matter how hard I try to "get" myself in the mood, it just does not work. Neither the decorations, music, television specials or seasonal movies seem to have any affect on me. Instead of going to Houston this weekend, I would be perfectly content to stay home and just enjoy being with my wife. Don't really need any presents either.
I feel bad because I have not gotten out any Christmas decorations and I know how much Amy enjoys them. No tree, no lights, no candy canes, no nothing.
I am just not in the mood.
I am not in the mood or spirit for this Christmas season. Don't know why. I told Amy I think it is because of all the changes going on at work and the events of the past few months at church. No matter how hard I try to "get" myself in the mood, it just does not work. Neither the decorations, music, television specials or seasonal movies seem to have any affect on me. Instead of going to Houston this weekend, I would be perfectly content to stay home and just enjoy being with my wife. Don't really need any presents either.
I feel bad because I have not gotten out any Christmas decorations and I know how much Amy enjoys them. No tree, no lights, no candy canes, no nothing.
I am just not in the mood.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Fall calves - Pt II
* Editors note: I hope we're not starting a pattern.
I have previously mentioned some of the antics of the local bovine popluation on my way to work. It is amazing what I see and keep to myself daily as I drive to work...at 70 m.p.h. Then suddenly it jumps back at you in a memory that gives you somehting to think about. In this case, it was a great split-second image that is just burned into my memory. Nothing profound...just something to share. And, an appreciation for God's handywork in nature.
We had recently had several days of overcast skies. If you are from south Texas, where we are so used to having so many clear days, not seeing the sun for a few days can have an affect on us that is really hard to describe. Listlessness, slugishness, depression (not the major kind), just a generally feel of...blah. On this particular morning, where the season was turning from summer to autumn, the sun had come out, sharp and bright. The temperature was cool and just invigorating. But, there was also extra humidy in the air. So what do you get when you combine autumn, cool nights, warm days, moderate humidity? Fog. Not the kind that socks in (or as Robert Frost would describe as that which comes in on "little cat's paws" - I think that's right, if not close), but the kind that clings to the grass and fields and does not seem to move anywhere. It just stays in one place and disappears as quickly as it appears.
On this day I was driving east on Hwy 97 in Atascosa County nearing the San Jose Cattle Company. About a mile-and-a-half before the main entrance to the cattle company, the road takes a large dip down and then begins a slow climb up past the gate. There is a large oak tree on the right just as you start into the dip. Through the tree, the sun was shining literal beams of light through the leaves and branches. Just past the tree and just off the road, there is a small pond and one of the gates that cattle go through from pasture to pasture. Immediately past this is a small fenced in pasture that the cattle are sometimes forced through. It is a small triangular field in which there is some brush growing. At one time the entire place was clean of brush, but, from what I know, hard times required cut backs on the ranch and brush has been allowed to reaccumulate.
Anyway, on this particular day there was a low grey/silver fog on the ground that came up to about the shoulder (do cows have shoulders?) of the cattle. They were standing among the brush with the sunlight bouncing off the fog giving the upper part of the humidity a golden hue while the rest remained that grey/silver. Some of the cows had their heads down grazing so it looked like some were just without a head. Those that had their head up, chewing their cud, appeared to be taking it all in. The brush was a dark brown that stuck out of the fog and did not appear to have any connection with the ground. It was a moment that, if captured on film, probably would not have the stupendousness about it. It was captured in the moment while driving and the beauty was wrapped in the whole of the area. Having looked at this scene so many times in the years that I have driven back and forth to work, I could almost imagine what the rest of the fields and pastures looked like at that moment.
Just thought I'd share this with you.
I have previously mentioned some of the antics of the local bovine popluation on my way to work. It is amazing what I see and keep to myself daily as I drive to work...at 70 m.p.h. Then suddenly it jumps back at you in a memory that gives you somehting to think about. In this case, it was a great split-second image that is just burned into my memory. Nothing profound...just something to share. And, an appreciation for God's handywork in nature.
We had recently had several days of overcast skies. If you are from south Texas, where we are so used to having so many clear days, not seeing the sun for a few days can have an affect on us that is really hard to describe. Listlessness, slugishness, depression (not the major kind), just a generally feel of...blah. On this particular morning, where the season was turning from summer to autumn, the sun had come out, sharp and bright. The temperature was cool and just invigorating. But, there was also extra humidy in the air. So what do you get when you combine autumn, cool nights, warm days, moderate humidity? Fog. Not the kind that socks in (or as Robert Frost would describe as that which comes in on "little cat's paws" - I think that's right, if not close), but the kind that clings to the grass and fields and does not seem to move anywhere. It just stays in one place and disappears as quickly as it appears.
On this day I was driving east on Hwy 97 in Atascosa County nearing the San Jose Cattle Company. About a mile-and-a-half before the main entrance to the cattle company, the road takes a large dip down and then begins a slow climb up past the gate. There is a large oak tree on the right just as you start into the dip. Through the tree, the sun was shining literal beams of light through the leaves and branches. Just past the tree and just off the road, there is a small pond and one of the gates that cattle go through from pasture to pasture. Immediately past this is a small fenced in pasture that the cattle are sometimes forced through. It is a small triangular field in which there is some brush growing. At one time the entire place was clean of brush, but, from what I know, hard times required cut backs on the ranch and brush has been allowed to reaccumulate.
Anyway, on this particular day there was a low grey/silver fog on the ground that came up to about the shoulder (do cows have shoulders?) of the cattle. They were standing among the brush with the sunlight bouncing off the fog giving the upper part of the humidity a golden hue while the rest remained that grey/silver. Some of the cows had their heads down grazing so it looked like some were just without a head. Those that had their head up, chewing their cud, appeared to be taking it all in. The brush was a dark brown that stuck out of the fog and did not appear to have any connection with the ground. It was a moment that, if captured on film, probably would not have the stupendousness about it. It was captured in the moment while driving and the beauty was wrapped in the whole of the area. Having looked at this scene so many times in the years that I have driven back and forth to work, I could almost imagine what the rest of the fields and pastures looked like at that moment.
Just thought I'd share this with you.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Armor of God
*Just some food for thought and introspection.
Ephesians 6:10-17 describes how we are to clothe ourselves with God and His Word to protect ourselves against evil forces. What article of clothing do you see yourself as? Or, while all articles are important, what would be the most important to you?
At this time in my Chritian walk, I see myself as the belt. It does not matter what shirt, pants, socks or shoes I wear...it does not matter if they match or not...I never feel completely dressed unless I am wearing a belt. The Belt of Truth...that which surrounds us...that which holds all the other articles of clothing together neatly (we hope). It is the one article of clothing that surrounds the core of our body. It is God's Word that provides the substance of my heart and soul. It is that one item that provides (for me) security and keeps everything from falling apart.
So...what are your thoughts. Share with me.
Ephesians 6:10-17 describes how we are to clothe ourselves with God and His Word to protect ourselves against evil forces. What article of clothing do you see yourself as? Or, while all articles are important, what would be the most important to you?
At this time in my Chritian walk, I see myself as the belt. It does not matter what shirt, pants, socks or shoes I wear...it does not matter if they match or not...I never feel completely dressed unless I am wearing a belt. The Belt of Truth...that which surrounds us...that which holds all the other articles of clothing together neatly (we hope). It is the one article of clothing that surrounds the core of our body. It is God's Word that provides the substance of my heart and soul. It is that one item that provides (for me) security and keeps everything from falling apart.
So...what are your thoughts. Share with me.
The Fringe
I was listening to Jack Evans, Sr. (on CD) on the way to work today. He said several interesting things. The particular one that caught my attention was his comments about the people who make up "the fringe" of a congregation.
He was giving his talk on a Sunday morning in Bible class at the beginning of a meeting. He was talking about how appreciative he was for all the people who were in the class. He continued by talking about how you can tell alot about a congregations life by those people who attend Bible class on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday nights. I don't think he was talking about the number of people who attend but about who the individuals are who attend. He referred to these people as the core of the congregation, those people who form the center of the congregation, those people who do the majority of the work of the church, those people who you can depend on when called upon, those people who you know will get things done. The rest of the people he referred to as "the fringe" of the congregation. His comment, as obvious as it is, was that you cannot count on those people.
I always see this group as those who stand outside the "inner circle". They want to be included but they don't really make an effort to join in. They are the "one foot in, one foot out" people. They are close enough that we know who they are but not enough to make themselves really known to the inner circle. They are invited to join, shown how to join, encourgaed to join, shown the benefits of joining, but they just do not take the information and run with it. You could almost substitute the word 'participate' for the word 'join' here.
A loose definition of a fringe is something that is on the edge of a piece of clothing. It is decoration that many times just makes clothing look good but really does not have a vitual function with the garment. Part of the definition from a dictionary is: something on the margin of an activity, process or subject matter.
I do not want to be on the fringe of the Church, nor do I just want to look good. In my experience, there is nothing worse than being on the outside looking in and wanting to be on the inside. It looks so good and inviting but, when you are not included, it can be heartbreaking. Why people choose to be on the fringe is beyond me. I know there has to be a measure of self involvement but when people are invited, encouagred, conjoled, begged, offered, told, reminded and they won't join...what do you do?
Speaking for myself...I made a decision (tentative as it was) a long time ago to let God do His work on me and we'll see where it leads. Through may trials, conflicts, triumphs and experiences, I found out that God does not lie, that He always fulfills His promises, always provides, always blesses ...always...always...always. There are not enough blogs to describe His goodness and mercy and fulfillment.
So...what are your thoughts. Share with me.
He was giving his talk on a Sunday morning in Bible class at the beginning of a meeting. He was talking about how appreciative he was for all the people who were in the class. He continued by talking about how you can tell alot about a congregations life by those people who attend Bible class on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday nights. I don't think he was talking about the number of people who attend but about who the individuals are who attend. He referred to these people as the core of the congregation, those people who form the center of the congregation, those people who do the majority of the work of the church, those people who you can depend on when called upon, those people who you know will get things done. The rest of the people he referred to as "the fringe" of the congregation. His comment, as obvious as it is, was that you cannot count on those people.
I always see this group as those who stand outside the "inner circle". They want to be included but they don't really make an effort to join in. They are the "one foot in, one foot out" people. They are close enough that we know who they are but not enough to make themselves really known to the inner circle. They are invited to join, shown how to join, encourgaed to join, shown the benefits of joining, but they just do not take the information and run with it. You could almost substitute the word 'participate' for the word 'join' here.
A loose definition of a fringe is something that is on the edge of a piece of clothing. It is decoration that many times just makes clothing look good but really does not have a vitual function with the garment. Part of the definition from a dictionary is: something on the margin of an activity, process or subject matter.
I do not want to be on the fringe of the Church, nor do I just want to look good. In my experience, there is nothing worse than being on the outside looking in and wanting to be on the inside. It looks so good and inviting but, when you are not included, it can be heartbreaking. Why people choose to be on the fringe is beyond me. I know there has to be a measure of self involvement but when people are invited, encouagred, conjoled, begged, offered, told, reminded and they won't join...what do you do?
Speaking for myself...I made a decision (tentative as it was) a long time ago to let God do His work on me and we'll see where it leads. Through may trials, conflicts, triumphs and experiences, I found out that God does not lie, that He always fulfills His promises, always provides, always blesses ...always...always...always. There are not enough blogs to describe His goodness and mercy and fulfillment.
So...what are your thoughts. Share with me.
I'm baaack!
Sorry it has been so long since I've blogged. Things have been really busy at work, long court days, days off, holidays, being lazy, computer at home it soooooo ssslllooowww... Okay, each separate thing is not really an excuse, but together they just seem to be overwhelming at times. So, to make up, I will try a double blog today. I always have thoughts running around in my head but never really enough to blog about. We'll see what comes out.
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