Christmas Eve and All Is Well

"Christmas Eve, and all is well!" I can almost hear him saying those lines now. My dad had a part in the Christmas play and those were his words as he played the part of a watchman, or security guard. I don't remember the name of the play nor very much about the play, but those words have seated themselves in my memory. Oh, it was years ago when I was just a child, maybe a teenager. I have recalled those words most every Christmas since then. Now, today, December 24, 2008, I can say "Christmas eve and all is well!"

This Christmas is very different from most every Christmas that I can remember. It's alway been a busy, busy time with hustling and bustling everywhere. Christmas messages, Christmas plays and Christmas contatas for the church; presents, and parties for family and friends; and traveling, visiting and on and on and on. It seems that we have always been so busy at Christmas time that we almost hated to see it come, but this Christmas is different. There is still Christmas messages and contatas but it has not been a frustration for me because I no longer hold the position of pastor, thus much less responsibility and anxiety over those things. There is still presents and parties, but in my present role, I am more like a participant rather than a frustrated leader. But this year, the usual traveling and visiting of relatives in Louisiana will be a little later than usual, making it possible for Janis and I to be home alone at Christmas time. Yes, we've been home at Christmas time before but it was always with one or more of our Children. This Christmas, I have a son in Colorado Springs, two daughters in Louisiana and one son visiting in Ohio. What a difference. You know, it's almost eerie. It's so quite. Janis is sleeping on the couch right now and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.

Tomorrow, I think we are going to find a resturant, if there are any open, and have a romantic meal together and tonight I think we are going to rent a movie and watch it together. That's something we seldom get to do. I told Janis that we are about to experience something that we have never experienced before and possibly will never experience again - a Christmas at home alone. It almost sounds like a tear jerking experience doesn't it? Well, put your hankies away because I think this is the way I want it. Maybe never again, but this year let it be. I feel like I may stumble upon some kind of hidden wisdom or something. It may turn out be a very dull and boring experience, but remember, I've alway got "Facebook". :) Nevertheless, I can say with my dad from years gone by, "Christmas eve and all is well!"

How I Waste My Time

You wanna know how I wast my time at the computer? Here it is! Well, not all my time is wasted this way. I have several other ways in which I waste my time, but this is one of them. I thought you might want to waste a little time with me! :)

People are Just People

Have you ever noticed how getting acquainted with someone can give you an entirely different picture of that person? I just had that to happen to me. Janis and I went to the North Cleveland Church of God Encourager's Sunday School Class Christmas Banquet tonight and it turned out that we were sitting at the table with two ladies about our age, whom we had met while we were attending the class. I thought they were fine people but figured they were just too far above me socially for there ever to be a real friendly, comfortable conversation with them. They are both widows, so I want to emphasize that Janis and I both were there at the same table with them. We had our introductory (getting reacquainted) greetings, shared two or three 'blond' jokes (one of the ladies was blond......maybe) and just talked and enjoyed our meals.

Both ladies had husbands who were successful ministers in the Church of God - one I knew from years gone by and the other I knew of and had met. This just falsely assured me that they had no interest in getting to know such a non-achiever as I and unfortunately, through no fault of her own, my wife. I must say that we all had a pleasant, yes, interesting, time of sharing. I will never see those ladies as being so socially sophisticated that they can't be friends, again.

Over time I have discovered that people are so much alike. Even those who seem so different. When you get to know someone, I think you will begin to see in some way, how they have traits and characteristics, likes and dislikes, goals and yes, faults, much like yourself. I'm glad to be reminded every now and then that I am not a total odd-ball. It makes me believe more strongly that we were all created by the same God and He has given us our uniqueness, and we should not be ashamed of what God has done.

Testing the World Book Link

I am just testing to see if this link will work. If it does, I will leave it posted. If not you won't even know that I tried. So, if you see this, click on the link and purchase your real hard copy (guaranteed, no virus) of World Book.