Sunday, December 23, 2012

Thinking Ahead

 
The snow is gone for now, and the sun actually came out late in the day on Friday. The surrounding mountains are dipped in icing sugar and against a deep blue backdrop are just stunning. We went for a late afternoon walk and had difficulty getting a grip on the black ice sidewalks. With my heaviest jacket and a warm felt hat, I was still cold and yearned to be in S. California .... or Mexico .... or Hawaii.
Work is done until after Boxing day, then another break, and as the New Year begins, it will find us in White Rock, back at it for a quick start to 2013. Mixed feelings again this year, about the way things panned out in '12, and what the New Year will hold. I am certainly grateful for most of what came down, but there were also some things I am not so thrilled about. "Give thanks in all circumstances" is easier said than done.
For now, we will enjoy the Christmas season as it rushes upon us in the next few days. It will be, as always, a wonderful time of family, food, memories, and celebrating what has become something it was never meant to be. Perhaps we will find a few special moments in the noise and excitement to reflect on Jesus, who left his home in Glory, became one like us, only to be beaten and cruelly murdered. We do not dwell on that, but rather we want to hear about mangers, angels, shepherds, and wise men. We want to hear about gifts and lights, and trees, and eggnog. We will leave the serious stuff for Easter. The world has corrupted Christmas in a hundred ways. It has become almost everything but the birth of our Saviour.  
 
They cannot do that to Easter. It will do us good to think of Easter this Christmas and realise just what a great gift God has really given us.   

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