This week is my Mother's birthday. . . Grandma Buehner, to some of you. I think a lot about her love and life. She is one of 8 children. Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, the family soon moved to SLC, where they were all raised. She is the 2nd oldest and 2nd daughter to Kenneth R. Neeley and Maude Elizabeth Groberg Neeley. Life was good in those days. I still listen to the old radio hits and imagine what life must have been like back then. What were they doing? Where were they going? I only imagine them happy. They loved each other.
Mom was the first of the "flock" to fly the coop. My Dad had a career opportunity here in Arizona. That took them out of the loop of the family dinners, get- togethers, birthday parties, visiting on a whim . . . The move didn't happen suddenly. They thought about it for a couple of years before they took the leap of faith to come. I know it was hard. I watched her with sadness every year as we traveled home from fun summer vacations filled with cousins in Salt Lake. She silently cried all the way to Kanab. It was also hard for her to function without her "team" around her like she was used to for so many years. I was surprised when she told me just a few years ago, as I helped her decorate for Christmas, how hard it was to have to do things like that alone, since she was still used to doing things with her family around. "We got so much more done together", she said.
And I think about my Grandma Neeley, who was left a widow when I was just months old. She had never been without all of her children around. That must have been so hard. Her youngest is 2 years older than me.
So, Arizona became our home. It is 2012 and we all still live here. I have rejoiced for Mom (and Dad's) comfort and good fortune to have all of their children here, close by them. That is a rare thing, anymore. I think they sleep better and dream bigger. We have been the recipients of many wonderful memories.
Happy Birthday, Mom! I'm so glad we're all here, too.
I love you!
Jody
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Today's talk at church . . .
It was a great meeting today. Both singles wards met together for one meeting. Those who missed it, missed a great day. This story was quoted. I hadn't heard it before, but it struck a chord:
I wanted to share a piece about where the student argued the point of God vs Science with his professor.
‘Let me explain the problem science has with religion.’
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand
‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?’
’Yes sir,’ the student says.
’So you believe in God’
’Absolutely.’
‘Is God good?’
‘Sure! God’s good.’
‘Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?’
‘Yes’
’Are you good or evil?’
‘The Bible says I’m evil.’
The professor grins knowingly.
‘Aha! The Bible!’ He considers for a moment. ‘Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?’
‘Yes sir, I would.’
‘So you’re good…!’
‘I wouldn’t say that.’
‘But why not say that? You’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.’
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. ‘He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?’
The student remains silent.
‘No, you can’t, can you?’ the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
‘Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?’
‘Er…yes,’ the student says.
‘Is Satan good?’
The student doesn’t hesitate on this one. ‘No.’
‘Then where does Satan come from?’
The student falters. ‘From God’
‘That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct?’
‘Yes’
‘So who created evil?’ The professor continued, ‘If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.’
Again, the student has no answer. ‘Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?’
The student squirms on his feet. ‘Yes.’
‘So who created them?’
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. ‘Who created them?’ There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. ‘Tell me,’ he continues onto another student. ‘Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?’
The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. ‘Yes, professor, I do.’
The old man stops pacing. ‘Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?’
‘No sir. I’ve never seen Him.’
‘Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your Jesus?’
‘No, sir, I have not.’
‘Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?’
‘No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.’
‘Yet you still believe in him?’
‘Yes’
‘According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?’
‘Nothing,’ the student replies. ‘I only have my faith.’
‘Yes, faith,’ the professor repeats. ‘And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.’
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. ‘Professor, is there such thing as heat?’
‘And is there such a thing as cold?’
‘Yes, son, there’s cold too.’
‘No sir, there isn’t.’
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. ‘You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.’
‘Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.’
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
‘What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?’
‘Yes,’ the professor replies without hesitation. ‘What is night if it isn’t darkness?’
‘You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word.’
‘In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?’
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. ‘So what point are you making, young man?’
‘Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.’
The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time. ‘Flawed? Can you explain how?’
‘You are working on the premise of duality,’ the student explains. ‘You argue that there is life and then there’s death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought.
It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.’
‘Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?’
‘If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.’
‘Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?’
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
‘Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?’
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
‘To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.’
The student looks around the room. ‘Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?’ The class breaks out into laughter.
‘Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.’
‘So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?’
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. ‘I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.’
‘Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,’ the student continues. ‘Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?’
Now uncertain, the professor responds, ‘Of course, there is. We see it everyday It is in the daily example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.’
To this the student replied, ‘Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.’
The professor sat down.
The student was Albert Einstein. From his Book "God Vs. Science" written in 1921.
I wanted to share a piece about where the student argued the point of God vs Science with his professor.
‘Let me explain the problem science has with religion.’
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand
‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?’
’Yes sir,’ the student says.
’So you believe in God’
’Absolutely.’
‘Is God good?’
‘Sure! God’s good.’
‘Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?’
‘Yes’
’Are you good or evil?’
‘The Bible says I’m evil.’
The professor grins knowingly.
‘Aha! The Bible!’ He considers for a moment. ‘Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?’
‘Yes sir, I would.’
‘So you’re good…!’
‘I wouldn’t say that.’
‘But why not say that? You’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.’
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. ‘He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?’
The student remains silent.
‘No, you can’t, can you?’ the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
‘Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?’
‘Er…yes,’ the student says.
‘Is Satan good?’
The student doesn’t hesitate on this one. ‘No.’
‘Then where does Satan come from?’
The student falters. ‘From God’
‘That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct?’
‘Yes’
‘So who created evil?’ The professor continued, ‘If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.’
Again, the student has no answer. ‘Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?’
The student squirms on his feet. ‘Yes.’
‘So who created them?’
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. ‘Who created them?’ There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. ‘Tell me,’ he continues onto another student. ‘Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?’
The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. ‘Yes, professor, I do.’
The old man stops pacing. ‘Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?’
‘No sir. I’ve never seen Him.’
‘Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your Jesus?’
‘No, sir, I have not.’
‘Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?’
‘No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.’
‘Yet you still believe in him?’
‘Yes’
‘According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?’
‘Nothing,’ the student replies. ‘I only have my faith.’
‘Yes, faith,’ the professor repeats. ‘And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.’
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. ‘Professor, is there such thing as heat?’
‘And is there such a thing as cold?’
‘Yes, son, there’s cold too.’
‘No sir, there isn’t.’
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. ‘You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.’
‘Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.’
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
‘What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?’
‘Yes,’ the professor replies without hesitation. ‘What is night if it isn’t darkness?’
‘You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word.’
‘In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?’
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. ‘So what point are you making, young man?’
‘Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.’
The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time. ‘Flawed? Can you explain how?’
‘You are working on the premise of duality,’ the student explains. ‘You argue that there is life and then there’s death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought.
It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.’
‘Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?’
‘If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.’
‘Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?’
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
‘Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?’
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
‘To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.’
The student looks around the room. ‘Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?’ The class breaks out into laughter.
‘Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.’
‘So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?’
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. ‘I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.’
‘Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,’ the student continues. ‘Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?’
Now uncertain, the professor responds, ‘Of course, there is. We see it everyday It is in the daily example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.’
To this the student replied, ‘Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.’
The professor sat down.
The student was Albert Einstein. From his Book "God Vs. Science" written in 1921.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Claus and Effect
Is there really a Santa?
There must be . . . of course,
If there's not - how do presents and toys
Get delivered each year
By eight tiny reindeer
To the homes of all the good girls and boys?
The traditional tale
Of the night before Christmas
Says Santa piles gifts in his sleigh,
And takes off through the snow
With a grand, "Ho Ho Ho"
To deliver the goodies our way?
And no matter how big
Or how little we are
When we slip into bed Christmas Eve,
We all want to think,
"Santa's heading our way!"
We're trying our best to believe.
Is there really a list
Of who's naughty or nice
That's compiled by our merry old friend?
Have we made all this up?
Is there really a Santa?
Or, is this whole story pretend?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would childrens eyes sparkle
The way that they do when they see
All the special surprises
Of all shapes and sizes
Awaiting them under the tree?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would stockings be hung?
Would our homes be as merry and bright?
Would mistletoe, holly,
And boughs be so jolly?
Would our loved ones be such a delight?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would Christmas time feasts
Be as full of good food and good cheer?
Would grown ups be children
Again, for a while?
Would our troubles somehow disappear?
There's really a reason
For holiday hoopla -
A reason our halls are bedecked.
There's surely somebody
Behind all of this,
A cause for the Christmas effect.
As we hear far away,
"Merry Christmas To All"
And glimpse a sleigh dashing into the night,
We're smugly amused -
For the riddle's been solved . . .
There is really a Santa Claus!
Right?
(from a book by Mary Engelbreit)
There must be . . . of course,
If there's not - how do presents and toys
Get delivered each year
By eight tiny reindeer
To the homes of all the good girls and boys?
The traditional tale
Of the night before Christmas
Says Santa piles gifts in his sleigh,
And takes off through the snow
With a grand, "Ho Ho Ho"
To deliver the goodies our way?
And no matter how big
Or how little we are
When we slip into bed Christmas Eve,
We all want to think,
"Santa's heading our way!"
We're trying our best to believe.
Is there really a list
Of who's naughty or nice
That's compiled by our merry old friend?
Have we made all this up?
Is there really a Santa?
Or, is this whole story pretend?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would childrens eyes sparkle
The way that they do when they see
All the special surprises
Of all shapes and sizes
Awaiting them under the tree?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would stockings be hung?
Would our homes be as merry and bright?
Would mistletoe, holly,
And boughs be so jolly?
Would our loved ones be such a delight?
If there wasn't a Santa
Would Christmas time feasts
Be as full of good food and good cheer?
Would grown ups be children
Again, for a while?
Would our troubles somehow disappear?
There's really a reason
For holiday hoopla -
A reason our halls are bedecked.
There's surely somebody
Behind all of this,
A cause for the Christmas effect.
As we hear far away,
"Merry Christmas To All"
And glimpse a sleigh dashing into the night,
We're smugly amused -
For the riddle's been solved . . .
There is really a Santa Claus!
Right?
(from a book by Mary Engelbreit)
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Cary Grant Christmas Lullabye
Merry Christmas to our once "little ones", who have grown up to be big ones with their own little ones. The love never ends . . .
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I love you ALL dearly.
Mom
www.myspace.com/carysings/music/songs/christmas-lullaby-2979712
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I love you ALL dearly.
Mom
www.myspace.com/carysings/music/songs/christmas-lullaby-2979712
Friday, December 16, 2011
Talk for Dec. 17, 2011
I love Christmas carols. If you come into our home, you will notice displays of carolers on most of the flat surfaces. I imagine them like the heavenly host from Luke 2, singing joyfully and triumphantly for the long awaited birth of our Savior. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.“
One of my favorite carols is about a King from Czechoslovakia in the 1400’s:
“Good King Wenceslas”
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
I love these lyrics, because the King doesn’t order the page to bring in the poor man by himself, “forth they went together.” And when the page struggles with the dark and cold as he follows, the King comforts and encourages him, telling him to “tread in his footsteps and it will be less cold. As the page steps in his master’s steps, “Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed”.
The image of this carol is meaningful to me, all year long.
This week, we finished the 1st 12 days of December, secretly dropping off goodies to our neighbors across the street for 12 days. I knew the situation in their “household”. (An elderly 93 year old grandmother, her daughter, her granddaughter, and 2 mentally handicapped teenage great grand children of the granddaughter.) Our 3 year old granddaughter, Kate, was in on the fun as we lined up each of the wrapped goodies in anticipation of the next day’s sneaky “drop off”. We would carefully cross the street, heading the opposite direction, in case they suspected us. Then, we would cross through yards and hedges to slip sideways to their front door. Kate got pretty good. She knew the path after a few days and could get in and out pretty smoothly. Every day, we would laugh quietly all the way home, because who doesn’t like goodies? On the 12th day, we delivered 12 drum shaped sugar cookies, actually rang their door bell, and stood for their answer. Phyllis, the granddaughter, who I knew best, came to the door. We explained that we were their “true friends” (like it had said on every tag of goodies). And we just wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas. About that time, she stepped out onto the porch, pulling the door behind her so as not to let in the cool air. As she did, we noticed a big, metal hospital bed set up in their living room, right next to the front door. We couldn’t see details clearly, but we all knew that the frail grandmother lay cared for on that bed. Phyllis explained that the bed only fit in that front room. We tried to make conversation, both now knowing that behind her front door was not the typical front room setting. She was very pleased about the goodies and hadn’t suspected anyone, really. Then, as if we were her visiting teachers, the words came out, “So, if there is ever anything you need, please give me a call.” She thanked us kindly and smiled as she turned to step back inside.
Kate had seen what I saw, and the walk home was a little more somber than the other days. I answered a few of her concerned questions on the way home. . . Two things I did know: 1) They were the first in our neighborhood to display Christmas lights. I knew they celebrated Christmas. 2) Every day after the “drop off” the goodies had been retrieved within a few minutes. They must have looked forward to them. It still feels good to know, even though life behind each of our doors is different, that a better friendship has been formed.
I have thought about them every day.
This talk could have easily ended at the assigned 3 minute mark, however a small miracle happened that you might like to know. . .
Our doorbell rang,just as I was putting these thoughts together. I hurried to open the front door. To my great delight, Phyllis is standing there with an arm full of goodies - A chocolate cheesecake and a big Christmas stocking with coloring books inside, especially for Kate. I was in awe. I could only hug her.
Like Good King Wenceslas, are my footsteps big and warm enough to comfort and give compassion to someone else? Or, like the page, am I thankful for the examples of others footsteps that make my path less cold? Humbly, I began to feel the warmth of her footprints.
The last verse of “O Holy Night”, sings:
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.
I pray that "heat will be in the very sod" of our footprints as we live by His teachings to love and serve one another.
One of my favorite carols is about a King from Czechoslovakia in the 1400’s:
“Good King Wenceslas”
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
I love these lyrics, because the King doesn’t order the page to bring in the poor man by himself, “forth they went together.” And when the page struggles with the dark and cold as he follows, the King comforts and encourages him, telling him to “tread in his footsteps and it will be less cold. As the page steps in his master’s steps, “Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed”.
The image of this carol is meaningful to me, all year long.
This week, we finished the 1st 12 days of December, secretly dropping off goodies to our neighbors across the street for 12 days. I knew the situation in their “household”. (An elderly 93 year old grandmother, her daughter, her granddaughter, and 2 mentally handicapped teenage great grand children of the granddaughter.) Our 3 year old granddaughter, Kate, was in on the fun as we lined up each of the wrapped goodies in anticipation of the next day’s sneaky “drop off”. We would carefully cross the street, heading the opposite direction, in case they suspected us. Then, we would cross through yards and hedges to slip sideways to their front door. Kate got pretty good. She knew the path after a few days and could get in and out pretty smoothly. Every day, we would laugh quietly all the way home, because who doesn’t like goodies? On the 12th day, we delivered 12 drum shaped sugar cookies, actually rang their door bell, and stood for their answer. Phyllis, the granddaughter, who I knew best, came to the door. We explained that we were their “true friends” (like it had said on every tag of goodies). And we just wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas. About that time, she stepped out onto the porch, pulling the door behind her so as not to let in the cool air. As she did, we noticed a big, metal hospital bed set up in their living room, right next to the front door. We couldn’t see details clearly, but we all knew that the frail grandmother lay cared for on that bed. Phyllis explained that the bed only fit in that front room. We tried to make conversation, both now knowing that behind her front door was not the typical front room setting. She was very pleased about the goodies and hadn’t suspected anyone, really. Then, as if we were her visiting teachers, the words came out, “So, if there is ever anything you need, please give me a call.” She thanked us kindly and smiled as she turned to step back inside.
Kate had seen what I saw, and the walk home was a little more somber than the other days. I answered a few of her concerned questions on the way home. . . Two things I did know: 1) They were the first in our neighborhood to display Christmas lights. I knew they celebrated Christmas. 2) Every day after the “drop off” the goodies had been retrieved within a few minutes. They must have looked forward to them. It still feels good to know, even though life behind each of our doors is different, that a better friendship has been formed.
I have thought about them every day.
This talk could have easily ended at the assigned 3 minute mark, however a small miracle happened that you might like to know. . .
Our doorbell rang,just as I was putting these thoughts together. I hurried to open the front door. To my great delight, Phyllis is standing there with an arm full of goodies - A chocolate cheesecake and a big Christmas stocking with coloring books inside, especially for Kate. I was in awe. I could only hug her.
Like Good King Wenceslas, are my footsteps big and warm enough to comfort and give compassion to someone else? Or, like the page, am I thankful for the examples of others footsteps that make my path less cold? Humbly, I began to feel the warmth of her footprints.
The last verse of “O Holy Night”, sings:
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.
I pray that "heat will be in the very sod" of our footprints as we live by His teachings to love and serve one another.
Friday, December 9, 2011
A Lesson for Children
A Lesson for Children.
Pray to God.
Love God.
Fear God.
Serve God.
Take not God's
Name in vain.
Do not Swear.
Do not Steal.
Cheat not in your play.
Play not with bad boys.
Call no ill names.
Use no ill words.
Tell no lies.
Hate Lies.
Speak the Truth.
Spend your Time well.
Love your School.
Mind your Book.
Strive to learn.
Be not a Dunce
The New England Primer of 1777
Pray to God.
Love God.
Fear God.
Serve God.
Take not God's
Name in vain.
Do not Swear.
Do not Steal.
Cheat not in your play.
Play not with bad boys.
Call no ill names.
Use no ill words.
Tell no lies.
Hate Lies.
Speak the Truth.
Spend your Time well.
Love your School.
Mind your Book.
Strive to learn.
Be not a Dunce
The New England Primer of 1777
Saturday, November 26, 2011
"He's Going to Fall Off of There!"
Today is Gregg's birthday. He's 25. He'll always be our youngest child, but he has grown up.
I remember at our house on Juniper Street when Gregg was less than a year old, our neighbor Judith would come over. She would walk through the grass from her yard to ours, and continue on past the front window and door. When she got to the kitchen window, she would peek in. Gregg would be sitting at the bar on a bar stool, eating or playing (no strapping in, just a great balance) while I puttered around the kitchen. It never failed, when she saw Gregg, she would let out a vocal gasp / scream. And then when I opened the back door, she would tell me again, "He's going to fall off of there!"
For some reason I never worried. I knew he was stable and I reassured her each time. He never did fall off. Those were sweet days. I'm proud to be Gregg's mother and I have always been glad for his stability and my knowledge that he wouldn't fall off. He is a joy and a wonderful example of faith and strength.
Happy Happy Birthday Gregg!
I Love you, dearly!
Mom
I remember at our house on Juniper Street when Gregg was less than a year old, our neighbor Judith would come over. She would walk through the grass from her yard to ours, and continue on past the front window and door. When she got to the kitchen window, she would peek in. Gregg would be sitting at the bar on a bar stool, eating or playing (no strapping in, just a great balance) while I puttered around the kitchen. It never failed, when she saw Gregg, she would let out a vocal gasp / scream. And then when I opened the back door, she would tell me again, "He's going to fall off of there!"
For some reason I never worried. I knew he was stable and I reassured her each time. He never did fall off. Those were sweet days. I'm proud to be Gregg's mother and I have always been glad for his stability and my knowledge that he wouldn't fall off. He is a joy and a wonderful example of faith and strength.
Happy Happy Birthday Gregg!
I Love you, dearly!
Mom
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