My old friend John calls it “ocular leakage”. I welled up with tears at a local Christmas concert while singing “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear’s” verse;  

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way, with painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing;
Oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing! 

Scripture

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12 MSG)

Stuck in Traffic

I hate getting stuck in traffic.   No matter how many apps, or traffic reports I consult, the sitting in one place, fuming, continues. Too many cars, too many pedestrians – the infrastructure just can’t handle the volume of traffic. The other night stuck, but trying to employ my vast reserves of patience and acceptance, I thought “It isn’t just literal traffic jams I’m in; they are also emotional, interpersonal, and spiritual”.

I’m not sure how to make sense of much that is hitting our minds and hearts these days. Maybe like me, you long for a common understanding of issues, both personal and global. Simple and easy answers that force us to take sides only increase conflict and doesn’t lead to solutions.

On the cost of living, grocers, blame suppliers. Builders blame government. One government blames a level up or down. One nation’s horrific acts justifies another’s horrific acts. Lord have mercy.

The shepherds probably hid their whiskey bottles when suddenly angelic flashes lit their night sky. They heard an angelic message that is in today’s scripture. Read it a few times – hear it again for the first time. It’s what still shapes our lives, God is with us, but humbly and vulnerably to share and give strength for our traffic jams.

A Prayer for Today

Loving God, your answers to our overwhelming challenges come in person. Whether our act of faith is engaging life with new limitations and fears or desiring forgiveness and reconciliation – you turn it upside down with love in vulnerability, power in weakness, aligning with the poor and voiceless. My answers to big problems fail me but give me courage to trust in your loving presence to faithfully serve, love and embrace those who need my voice and help …. For Jesus’ sake

“What are ya doing? Trying to heat the whole town? Close the door!”   We’ve heard that or maybe even said it when heat is pouring out if someone leaves a door open on a cold day. William Wordsworth was more elegant in his lines; The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our power.  

We were both born on May 1st, but my friend Pekka is a year younger. We have become grizzled veterans of life and have shared our successes and failures, joys and sorrows, questions, and answers for more than 40 years. We also share a common affinity to the TV game show “Jeopardy”.  

Last week I tossed my wedding ring and pinky ring on my desk at the end of the day. Later the next morning I put on my wedding ring, but the pinky ring went missing. Susan had given me the jade ring for our engagement in 1967 so it has both real and sentimental value. We scoured my study looking under the desk, garbage pail - even emptied the vacuum cleaner bag because we’d vacuumed that morning. No luck.