CHECK IT OUT

Have you heard about the old woman who had so many children she didn't know what to
do? The story is told about a woman who had several children and grandchildren that
she realized she couldn't buy something for each and every one of them at Christmas. So
she decided to send each one a check and a note,"Buy your own present."
As time went buy she wondered why she hadn't gotten one"thank you" from even one
of her children or grandchildren. Needless to say, she was disappointed.Truth be told,
she was so hurt that she was going to tell them all off whenever she saw them the next
time.
But one day while she was looking at a stack of enevelopes she came across one filled
full of checks. They were the checks for the children and grandchildren. She had failed
to put them in each envelope with the note saying,"Buy your own gift."
Have you ever made a mistake? She sure did, didn't she? Her family must of thought
that they were to buy their own Christmas gift because she wasn't going to gift them
each a gift.
As you start out on another new year, don't forget to include a note of thanks to God
for being present with you day and night. He is waiting and wanting to hear from you.
Don't let Him down. Don't be late in 2008. By the way, Happy New Year!

The Today Show

It was nice not having to be up and at it early this morning. So, I stayed in bed until
5:58 a.m.. I took the three dogs outside as well as the recycle containers and then I
watched tv and read the morning paper with my morning coffee. It was a very good
morning until the news came on about an assination. So sad.
We were with most of our family at my father's yesterday. It was a delightful day as
we celebrated Christmas as the Coomer clan in Columbia. I shed a tear or two when
my 95 year dad prayed the prayer for the meal. Just having him still with us is a
gift from God.
While we have lots of cleaning up to do around the house, mainly I want to take it
easy and reflect on the reason for the season.

LIGHT A CANDLE

While I was waiting for my family to show up for the second service at church this
morning, a good friend started speaking to me. He asked if I remembered what I
had done in a Christmas Eve service several years ago. He went on to say that he
had never forgotten how I handled a situation in the service.
As we were closing the candlelight coummunion service, I had people to stand in a
circle and each one light a candle. After I had lit the first candle I stepped aside and
watched as the darkness was overcome with bright light. When I looked down at
my own candle, I noticed that it had gone out. I stood stilland didn't speak. I simply
waited to see if someone would re-light my candle with their candle. All of the
sudden a little girl reached out to me and lit my candle again. That's when I told those
there that there are others whose light has gone out of their lives and that they need
someone to say or do something to bring light to their lives. After all, that's what the
true meaning of Christmas is all about.
We then sang a simple song: "Light a candle, light a candle and tell the world, and tell the
world, Jesus Christ was born, Jesus Christ was born, on Christmas morn, on Christmas
morn." To close we sang, "Silent Night" and then we went on our different ways. Now
after all these years, a man told me that he has never forgotten that service. Neither
have I. The light still shines after all these years.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

As I was getting out of our car at church this morning, I reached down to get my cain. There
was no cain. And, I didn't have time to travel back home and get it. I walked into church and
told three people there what I had done. I felt that I could carry on without it even though
I was in charge of Communion at the 8:25 service.
As I started to walk into the sanctuary, someone handed me something that she thought I
could use. It wasn't a cane but a golf club. Not being bashful, I walked on in with it at my side.
As it went, I didn't need to use it. But I was glad to have it just in case I needed it. It was an
expected Christmas gift from someone being thoughful of a man with M S and has trouble
walking at times.
God and Georgia worked well together to see to it that I would have help if I needed it.
While I didn't, I was sure glad to know it was there for a forgetful preacher on a Sunday
morning.

ON LOAN

I was loaned a book by Frederick Buechner earlier this week, The Longing for Home. Just
last week I almost bought it at Barnes & Nobles but didn't. The copy I have belongs to two
people I've known for thirty five years or so. Jerry & Carol have meant so much to my own
life and to the lives of so many more people.
This Buechner book deals with two topics: recollection and reflection. Maybe that's why I
think of Jerry on almost every page. Even though he has been dead for a few years, I
think of him almost every time I read books. Jerry loved to read too.
When I read the table of contents I realized that I've already read most of the sermons
that are in it. But there are a few that I have yet to read as well as what else he has to
say. I keep this borrowed book by my bed and read a page or two each evening before
turning the light out and going to sleep.
I can't keep this book. I can't even make marks in it, but I'm sure it willl leave it's marks
on me. When I return it to Carol, I know that I will want to hug her and offer words of
recollection and reflection with her from down deep in my heart. It's the owners of the
book that leave a lasting impression on me far more than the book it's self.

LISTEN

Since Frederick Buechner is one of my favorite writers, I bought one of his books last
week. Listening to Your Life is the title of this book of daily meditations. One of the
reasons I bought the book is that like the title and the thought that what he has to
say will assist me in looking at my own life in a new way.
During these days of Advent I feel a strong urge to look at my spiritual life. Buechners'
book will be my guide as I take a look under the rug of my soul and see what is hidden
there that needs to be swept out and done away with. It might take some time since
I tend to hate house cleaning, if youknow what I mean. I have an idea I'm in good
company about doing something bad. Can I hear an "Amen!"? So I invite you to take
time during these days of Advent to listen to your life and get a pulse beat of what's
go on down deep inside your soul. Take The Bible and let it lead you as you pray
about spiritual things.
Rather than starting my day with Listening to Your Life, I'm going to let it be my
sleeping pill. That is to say, if I sleep well, things are well with my soul.But if I
have trouble sleeping it might mean that something has touched a sore spot of my
soul that needs attention and action. I sure hope and pray that I can sleep well as
I read through these daily mediations. Maybe that's what it means to have a good
night's sleep.