How Does the Story End?

12.17.2023

Our Catholic friends have a special celebration for Advent. It is called Las Posadas. In Spanish, the words translate into the English words, The Inns. It is a religious festival celebrated in the Catholic churches of Mexico and some parts of the United States. It commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There is a procession through town. It is primarily made up of children. A small child, dressed as an angel, leads the procession followed by children dressed as Joseph and Mary. They are followed by other children dressed in robes of silver and gold. They carry candles and hold placards with images of Joseph and Mary on their journey. Adults come at the end playing instruments. The whole group stops at homes along the route where they are refused lodging. Before departing to the next home there are treats handed out, a bible verse is read, and carols are sung. Then they move on to the next home and the whole thing is played out again. They are turned away again and again…there is no room at the inn.

It occurs to me that this should be tragic or sad. Joseph and Mary have traveled a great distance. Mary is pregnant. They can find no place to stop and rest. But it seems more like a party. In fact, at the end, there is a party with pinatas containing candies, toys, and gold stars to remind them of the gifts the Three Wise Men provided. Everyone in this festival knows this story ends with a celebration.

I suspect the festival's purpose is to teach children the story of the birth of Christ. I can’t think of a better way to drive home the point. Acting things out is always an effective teaching technique. 

However, there is another lesson to remember here. Every day we travel along the same kind of road Joseph and Mary faced. Sometimes we travel with a purpose; we are required to respond to some edict or direction. Sometimes things work out well. Other times life serves up disappointments along the way. Opportunities are lost. Others turn us away. Things don’t happen in the way we planned. There is sadness, anger, despair, or frustration along the way. 

But, those children know How the Story Ends…with the birth of Christ and redemption for all of mankind; so, for them, it is a festival. 

It is well to remember that we also know How the Story Ends. There will be a party at the end; and, along the way as we face personal challenges and closed doors, there is a verse to read or a song to sing making life a festival daily. 

If you’re breathing…this is for you.

Lent…Spring Training?

02.14.2024

Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent when we remember that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting and resisting temptation. The day before Ash Wednesday, known by many as “Shrove Tuesday” or “Fat Tuesday”, is a chance to feast and indulge – in preparation for our personal fasting on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent.

The St Alban’s Congregation comes together to enjoy a Mardi Gras dinner replete with jambalaya, red beans and rice, bread pudding, and king cake. It is our tradition celebrate and congratulate the king and queen chosen this year to oversee the festivities while the kitchen crew kept the food coming.

As Jesus grew hungry from fasting in the desert, he faced the first of three temptations. Satan appeared before him and told him to turn stones into bread. But Jesus resisted, knowing that he was being tempted to do something God did not want. He knew the word of God was just as important as bread to survival.

He was then brought to the top of a building in Jerusalem and told that, if he truly was the Son of God, he should jump from the building and angels would carry him to safety. Jesus once again resisted, knowing not to challenge God.

On the third temptation, Jesus was brought to the top of a mountain and told that all the kingdoms he saw would be his if he knelt before Satan. But Jesus resisted again, proclaiming that it is only right to give worship to God.

Scripture lists many instances of Jesus continuing the practice of withdrawing to pray. The time of Lent reminds us to learn from his example and withdraw to focus on prayer and meditation. 

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

I am reminded of Spring Training for professional baseball teams. It is the time when ballplayers withdraw to practice their respective skills. If it is fielding then fielding. If pitching, then pitching. They focus on conditioning and learning their place on the team in preparation for the season of play. In like fashion, we practice withdrawal in prayer to learn our place; the place God ordained when creating the life that we inhabit. This is our time for “spring training” so that we may return to the “field of play” ready to take our place as part of the team.

Our lives in these modern times are neither wholly solitary nor wholly communal. Withdrawing, like Jesus, to a desolate place to commune with God is an act of receiving the Word and responding in prayer. It is time to let go of what we “know” and enjoy being close to the Father in mystery and awe. Then, we return to the bustle of life renewed by the Spirit to enter as “light” and “bread” to a hungry, harassed, and helpless world. 

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

This annual season of Lent is a time to remember…practice makes perfect. Take time to sit quietly. Think of this not as an achievement but an instrument…a skill to be finely honed. It is an opportunity to open our lives and souls to Him for whom we were made…to know and enjoy the Holy Presence of the Creator of Heaven and Earth. 

“All of humanity’s problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone,” – Blase Pascal (622-1662)

If you’re breathing…this is for you.

Channels in the Sand

05.06.2024

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.