A merry Christmas Metaphor
The Christian Church is like a one-horse open sleigh. St. Paul is the driver and the Holy Spirit, the strong, prancing horse. Around the belly of that horse are the bells –the music of the church—ringing out the earnestness, inspiration, and delight of the journey. Jesus is the adult-in-charge gathering up children that are trudging through the snow of life, slogging through the slush, or lost in the forest of their desires.The children in the sleigh call out to those walking to join them. Jesus scoops up those who come near and plunks them in the midst. Some won’t come because they are looking for another means of transportation; some say the sleigh is too crowded and they see the children fighting for a seat; some are so far off the track they can’t hear the invitation. But the ones who climb on board are in for the ride of their lives –clean, cold wind, warm bodies, singing together, a feast, and a high-stepping spirit powering the journey. Do you feel the motion of the sleigh?
Jingle, bells. Laugh, children.
May the One answer you in the day of trouble,
the character of the Ground-of-our-Being defend you,send you help from God’s viewpoint and
provide strength to you out of your spiritual tradition,
remember all your offerings and
accept your personal sacrifices,
grant you your heart’s desire and
prosper all your plans.
We will shout for joy at your victory and spiritual triumph.
Blessings Be Yours This Christmastime.
Love from Psa. 20 and Paula Craig
NEVER ENOUGH
Pointing out what needs to be done,what is not yet completed,
what is out of line,
what could be better,
what is lacking,
Is useful, of course, real and necessary, because
There are always needs to be done.
We are never complete.
Life is not linear.
There is nothing really good.
But God, in full.
And the burden of our need,
our incompleteness,
our trial and error,
our moral inadequacies
Is more than we can bear.
It drains our courage; leaves us in want
and with a haunting sense that we are
never enough.
No matter what we do, it is never enough.
Only God is enough.
So….we’ve been given God
swaddled to fit in our arms,
to smile into our eyes.
pcraig ‘06