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Christmas Eve~

12/24/2018

Christmas Eve. Many people out there are listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas presents, decorating Christmas cookies—Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. But very few admit to be Christian. I’m not judging, just observing.
I don’t need to announce publically that I am a Christian, but personally it makes all the difference in my life. Faith leads me toward humility and away from hubris. It is not me alone creating good thoughts, words and deeds, but God working through me. When I falter, I am forgiven and led to pick myself up
This Christmas Eve I will be listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas presents, and decorating Christmas cookies. God will be working through everyone, but I am blessed with the grace of knowing the mysterious benefit.

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Advent hope

12/20/2018

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Advent is a time of hope. We hope for Jesus’ saving grace. We know that his birth was just the beginning, that during his life he experienced satisfaction but then suffered and died a horrific death. The fulfillment of hope doesn’t come until Easter with his resurrection to new life.
    It is the cycle of all human experience; we sometimes we forget the good parts that hope carries for us.
    The following post was written for my cottage by the sea blog. As Christians, we can read the Advent hope into it.

Back home. Hiatus from posting as I catch up with all that’s going on here before we head to Lancaster on Saturday for Christmas. Tis the season to be grateful even among change and sadness.
      On Monday night my church went caroling to several of the people that I visit regularly; many young children and teenagers brought joy to the elderly who can’t get out anymore. ‘Shut-in’ may not be a PC term, but there’s some truth in it; for sure, however, they opened up their hearts and doors to those of us who can still get out and about.
     I had missed two weeks volunteering at Open Table, our local food pantry. I help on Tuesday, Senior Day. Many said they missed me and asked if I was okay. “Yes, I’m here today,” is all that I said, and then listened to their holiday stories. One woman admitted that the holidays weren’t joyful for her; two of her four adults sons had died of heart attacks during the year and the other two have heart conditions. Someone else admitted, “Christmas isn’t Tra-la-la-la-la for everyone.”
      But there was also joy and gratitude. A food supplier had donated frozen ham, turkey breast, or roast beef, a marvelous choice for each guest.

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Walking around with God

12/12/2018

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This is my last day in Florence walking around with God. Of course, I can walk around with God anywhere, because God is everywhere.
Walking around with God is not a white privilege; you don’t have to afford be in such a beautiful place as Florence; God walks with everyone, everywhere, all the time--God shows no partiality.
God is always there to walk with me. I just have to notice.

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St. James Episcopal Church in Florence

12/10/2018

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     Yesterday I attended Sunday worship at St. James Episcopal Church (where I used to go when I was a student here in 1959-60). The program was printed in both English and Italian, parts of the service were conducted in Italian, and Communion was open to everyone. The congregation was composed of people of all colors, languages, and nationalities. To quote my mom, it was what Heaven is like.
     Their mission statement:
We rejoice in a diverse and international parish family, and serve Italian and English speakers from many denominations, back grounds and cultures.

     The Rev. Cannon T. Mark Dunnam, preaching (in English) on Luke 3: 1-6, drew a contrast between the powerful rulers of the day and ‘insignificant’ John the Baptist. The message was compelling: God calls insignificant people like us to do powerful things.

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Church walk in Florence~

12/6/2018

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On every visit to Florence I take a morning church. I photograph each church exterior and move on to the next one. The rain stopped me from getting to Santa Croce.

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The Convent of San Marco and Fra Angelico

12/4/2018

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Here it is again! A slideshow of Fra Angelico’s frescoes in the monks’ cells in the Convent of San Marco. At 8:15 I was the first visitor of the day, and for a while I had the place to myself. I have a set of these same pictures stored on my computer, so why take them again? Because these are of the moment, this moment of prayer.

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Send love!

12/2/2018

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I’m back in Florence, walking around with God. My commitment to this is strong, which means that I am remembering more often to feel God’s presence, not just when I visit a church or walk the streets, but as I encounter people living their lives and expressing joys and concerns.
     My purpose simple: live only in, by, through, and with love. This means no judgments, other than to notice that someone is expressing joy or concern. If I observe joy, I express gratitude. If I observe what appears as sadness or anger, I send God’s peace.
    Case in point! A bit ago, a boy (age eight ?) sat down in this café with his parents and grandmother. He appeared distressed and started pouting and crying. He was not happy, nor were the adults happy with him. I need not analyze or explain the situation further.
     My prayer challenge is simple: send love. Further judgments on my part diminish the power of prayer.

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Christmas Eve~

Advent hope

Walking around with God

St. James Episcopal Church in Florence

Church walk in Florence~

The Convent of San Marco and Fra Angelico

Send love!

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