Hello all--
Some of you "know" me from the NACR forum, where I posted the following yesterday. (See below.) However, for those who don't, I thought I'd offer this here as well and to ask for your prayers for all as well. I was REALLY tired yesterday, so, after taking care of some "stuff" for my husband, I took it easy and got to bed early. Today--especially after having had another acupuncture treatment this a.m. AND having had a relatively good amount of sleep, I find that my relative "equilibrium" is back....the catch being how VERY "relative" a thing this seems to be! I love the recent quote posted on the "No Crosstalk" forum recently: "Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to take a nap!" (Good food for thought there too, but OH! HOW very true that does seem to be for me at the moment!)
Well.....This a.m. I wrote up a revised version of our annual Christmas letter and my husband got it copied while I was having my acupuncture treatment. SO now....we're "moving along" toward The Day, even if not as "efficiently" as we might like. That being the case, if I again fall relatively silent, you can imagine me muddling around TRYING to do what is necessary for a family holiday.
If you've got the time, I'd be interested in how you're spending your Christmas. What traditions do you have? What traditions have had to be changed over time? How did you deal with that? (We're needing to be REALLY flexible this year, and I find that I DO vary in my ability to handle this "well!")
More as able! I really do need to get off-line and into the "real world!"
Love and prayers....and, if I don't have a chance to do this before Christmas day, do know that I'll be thinking of you too, and that I do send you all my very best wishes for a truly wonderful, blessed Christmas.
Theodora
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Here's my post from yesterday:
Subject: Mon. Dec. 11, 2006 "People will do stuff..."
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5960
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....was the unexpected reaction/NON-reaction by the acting rector to the destruction of c. 1/4 of one of "our" church's stained glass windows this week. I can't begin to tell you of the shock it was to arrive in church, prepared to take my seat at what has become my "usual" place by this window, only to find it broken out at the bottom and "pieced" on the other side with plain glass. In talking to various people, including one of the deacons, I found out that the church had been victimized by another break-in (they had had someone break-in last spring, I think)...This happened on Thursday night and the deacon said that the perpetrator did get some money as well....but.... Talk about NOT talking about the "elephant in the living room!" There was NO announcement made as to what had happened, nor the reassurance given that the windows were insured and that the church is still in contact with the original artists, so hopefully the window can be restored. It was only AFTER the service, as I saw the rector in passing and made some comment to the effect, pointing to the window...."as if life weren't complicated enough..." that I got even that much response about of him. ???
I'm reminded a bit of the modeling of the Quaker community of Forgiveness in the face of the horrible murders of their children this fall. I can "admire" what seems to be "acceptance" of life's trials on the part of this man, but also wonder what he expects the congregation to do with their (...or...I'm projecting now...MY) sense of outrage and having been "violated"...at the DESECRATION of sacred space, at being at the mercy of those whose single acts of destruction can impact so many for so long. It's NOT just a question of whether or how we can bring some semblance of "order" back into this little haven of peace---it is the sense that, even as others have written following other, more serious disasters---WE ARE VULNERABLE.
It seems to me that having this now-visible reminder of our vulnerability, that we should be led in 1) GRIEVING what is lost...including some semblance of "safety" and 2) brought together to acknowledge the DIFFICULTY of needing to deal with the "real world" while in the midst of TRYING to prepare for a joyful Christmas and/or 3) to helped on in our own spiritual journey of where/how to "hate the sin but love the sinner" and to relinquish all need for "revenge." I guess part of the frustration of all of this is feeling that the perpetrator will probably NOT get caught---too many other "more important" demands on police time and energy and, after all, in the view of those looking at "bottom line," since the church is insured and has some hope of "restitution" of ITS PROPERTY, that is the heart of the matter.
But no....there's MUCH more to this than JUST the destruction of property and I feel a bit uncertain as to the "church's" leadership simply BECAUSE feelings were left unacknowledged and the obvious was ignored as though it had not happened. ??? I don't know....we've only recently begun attending this church with any kind of frequency and I don't really know this priest, but it was a hard day for me, in spite of some joyful music in church and, later, being able to attend the performance of two early music groups...one a vocal group, the other performing using early instruments---recorders, viola da gamba, etc. We also had a chance to sing some carols with them, while they did some nice descants to that, or alternated singing the verses with the "congregation." As it happened, I was seated in front of an alto, with whom I had previously sung in the church where the performance was held, so it was fun to have a small taste of "being home" to be able to sing together again. (Two of the singers in this vocal group are also in the choir of our "former" Episcopal church, so it was a joy to be able to see them and sing "with" them again too.) We also had a chance to see some friends from other venues who had also attended, so had a fun (and joyful) chance to show the "brag book" of photos of our Marine in dress uniform and his wife and new baby daughter.
Well....that's the extent of my news for today. As always, your on-going prayers appreciated for all....for wisdom, for peace, for "discernment!"
Grace and peace to you all this day--
Theodora
