Christmas Joys

With two children that are both married, we are becoming accomplished at managing holiday schedules.   We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving with the in-laws, who are very easy to work with.  This Christmas, we loved having our kids and grandkids with us in Braselton.  We attended two Christmas Eve services, enjoyed several trips to the playground and of course consumed more than our share of food and beverages.  The holiday fun is made complete by our six grandchildren.  We have two new girls this year, Brynn pictured here with Caroline and Blakely who was featured recently in an earlier post.  I hope that you were able to find joy with the people you were with this Christmas.

Obsession

The sun beats down

Heat rules the day

The rains lie silent

Plants and animals alike

Scaling the steep terrain 

In search of a foothold

And a spot of moisture

The seed blows to still

Undisturbed momentarily

Breathless and famished

Feet begin to scavenge

Deeper and deeper

Thirsting for nourishment

The course is slow and arduous

Rocks form blockades

Patient and determined

Each treasure uncovered

Inhaled intentionally

Passed upward to feeble arms

Reaching for the sky

Arms fall open

Searching for structure

Security, protection, and balance

As they grasp tight

They grow stronger

Month to month

Year after year

The trunk grows sturdy

Essential and steadfast

And then

With feet set firm

Nutrients rushing through its veins

And arms reaching for the sky

Fingers open as a bloom

Presenting the first fruit

To any that will taste of it

Free College

My parents were both from southern Appalachia, and this bluegrass arrangement of Carol of the Bells caught my attention.  Some of you may have seen this already, but if not take a moment to listen.  I love the quality throughout - from the arrangement to the musicianship to the video editing.   I dug a little deeper to find out more about Berea College in Kentucky where these musicians attend.  Berea College was founded in 1855 by the abolitionist, John Gregg Fee, was the first non-segregated university in the south and provides full scholarships to all of its students through a work-study program.  The school's motto is "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth".  I imagine there are many more beautiful things that are produced on this campus.

Mystery in music

12/7/18 UPDATE:  Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Georgia Wind Symphony concert on 12/9 has been canceled.  Please stay tuned for information on future concerts.

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that music is an important part of my life.  I met my wife in grade school, and we played in bands together through high school.  We took a break from the band for about 30 years, but are now playing together again in the Georgia Wind Symphony.  This Sunday at 4PM at Cambridge High School in Milton, GA, we will be performing our annual Christmas program.  We will be playing one of my favorite compositions of all time, O Magnum Mysterium - O Great Mystery, written about Mary and the birth of Jesus.  We would love to have you join us this Sunday if you can, but if location or schedule keeps us apart, you can enjoy our performance of O Magnum Mysterium from last year here.   Here is the translated Latin:

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!

I hope your Christmas season is filled with music you love.

Through the eyes of a child

Last week, I wrote about my sixth grandbaby, Blakely, being born into this world.  It made me think about how much more I love Christmas because of young children.  I love watching their faces as they are surprised by their gifts.  We have a favorite saying in our house that is a quote from my son, Michael, on Christmas morning when he was a toddler.  As he was unloading his stocking, he pulled out a pair or socks, and exclaimed with excitement, "just what I almost needed".    That sums it up for most of our gifts - just what we almost needed.  But what I really need is more Jesus.   If you need a lift today, take 4 minutes to watch this video telling the Christmas story through the eyes of a child.  

Heart Stopping

This week, Caroline and I were blessed with grandbaby number 6.  Lizzy and Trey brought Blakely Grace into the world.   Mom, Dad and Baby are all doing great.   Caroline and I were in the waiting area waiting for the text from Trey that Blakely had arrived.  There was an announcement over the PA system that said, "Code Pink in LDR 11", which we recognized as Lizzy's room.  Not knowing what a Code Pink was, I asked the first hospital employee I could find, and she let me know that the baby was in some sort of distress, but she didn't have additional details.  For the next 5 minutes, which seemed like 5 hours, we were in the dark about what was going on.   Every possible scenario, most of them horrifying, went through our heads - and for me, those thoughts centered around the possibility of serious health problems for Lizzy and/or Blakely. The only thing we knew to do was to pray.  We soon found out that everyone was fine.  Blakely had a somewhat awkward birth, but the amazing hospital staff responded quickly, and Blakely arrived just fine.  I can't imagine the additional pain of getting through this without my God to comfort me.  I give God honor and praise for the miracle of birth and the gift of comfort every day.

Believe it or not?

Our ConnectGroup from church wrapped up our Andy Stanley video series, "What happy couples know" last night.  Andy continues to deliver a message that is fresh, as if I was hearing it for the first time, but grounded in words that were spoken and written 2000 years ago.  In last night's video, he spoke about the gap that exists in relationships between expectations and experiences.  There is frequently a gap that has to be filled with something.  That something is either "believe the best" about the other person or "assume the worst" about the other person.  It feels like a reaction, but it is actually a choice we make each time the gap is created.  Assuming the worst drives the other person away and can actually push them to do the very thing you are scared they are going to do.  Believing the best creates an upward spiral of trust and love that can become the bedrock for happy couples.  Nobody said it would be easy.  It will be hard, but it is one of the most important things that happy couples know.  To see the full message, click here.